Edward Snowden Warns: Whatever You Do, Don’t Use Telegram Messenger App

Ex-NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden has raised further awareness of the risks encountered when using messaging applications. In the past, Snowden has been critical of Skype, where the company gave over Skype chats to the NSA.

In his latest round of Tweets, Snowden has questioned the Telegram app, in the context of the current Iranian political unrest. In his first tweet, he wondered why Telegram is claiming to provide secure services when in fact its public channels are censorable and unsafe.

He then goes on to talk about the questions surrounding the use of Telegram, and how the channel works.

Many don’t seem to understand why I object to @Telegram having unsafe, censorable public channels in an app that is promoted as a secure messenger. Some presumed I just don’t understand how channels work. So let’s talk about it:

— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) December 30, 2017

Over 40 million people in Iran use the Telegram app. Snowden says “public channels” are important news sources for Iranians who lack the tech skills that would otherwise keep them safe from prying Big Brother eyes. However, those currently using the app are unsafe and can easily be tracked by the Iranian government for political advantages.

@Durov: A Telegram channel is encouraging hateful conduct, use of Molotov cocktails, armed uprising, and social unrest. NOW is the time to stop such encouragements via Telegram.

— MJ Azari Jahromi (@azarijahromi) December 30, 2017

Just prior to New Years Eve, Telegram had shut down a channel that was calling for “violent protests” against the Iranian government. Iranian telecom minister Mohammad-Javad Azari Jahromi, known on Twitter as MJ Azari, had tweeted just before its shutdown that Telegram was “encouraging hateful conduct” and social unrest. In his tweet, he encouraged Telegram to stop the behaviour.

A Telegram channel (amadnews) started to instruct their subscribers to use Molotov cocktails against police and got suspended due to our “no calls for violence” rule. Be careful – there are lines one shouldn’t cross. Similar case from October – https://t.co/OWQFBLywjr

— Pavel Durov (@durov) December 30, 2017

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov responded, supporting Jahromi, saying if proven, the channel will be blocked regardless of its political affiliation. Two hours later, the CEO gave a suspension order.

Edward Snowden questioned the CEO’s decision saying that Telegram’s move was akin to a “monopoly position” to keep its “ecosystem” alive.

On the other, it means @Telegram will face increasing pressure over time to collaborate with the Iranian government’s demands for this or that. Today we saw the communications minister demand a big channel be shut down. And here’s where we start getting into complexity.

— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) December 30, 2017

Snowden reminded Durov of what forced him from Russia, when Russian domestic intelligence (FSB) attacked the app in September. At the time, Durov received a letter from the FSB, which he published on the Russian equivalent to Facebook that he also founded but no longer controls. The letter stated that Russian law dictates all keys be handed over to the government for decryption of any communications transmitted over Telegram.

In Iran, due to the distrust of American messaging apps, Telegram is one of the most downloaded apps on Android. For Iranians, a Russian connection is safer than Mark Zuckerberg’s offer. But Snowden warned Telegram is less safe than WhatsApp because of its storage based in the cloud, allowing third party access.

He advised Telegram’s Durov to design features that will remain accessible even if blocked by authoritarian regimes. He encouraged the conversion of all Iranian Telegram accounts to two-factor authentication and to teach the users to engage with Tor bridges as another form of protection.

He based his suggestions on the acknowledgment of governments becoming more authoritarian in their reach over users on messaging apps and the Internet. Naming Russia, China and Iran as some of the more overreaching governments, Snowden recommended using Signal, an encrypted messaging app he says he uses every day.