Дуров предостерегает: свободный интернет на грани уничтожения из-за новых правительственных мер Translation: Durov warns: the free internet is on the brink of destruction due to new government measures

We are moving towards a «dark, dystopian world» where governments are gradually stripping users of their right to privacy, as stated by Telegram’s creator, Pavel Durov.

*“I’ve turned 41, but I don’t feel like celebrating. Our generation is running out of time to save the free internet that our predecessors created,”* he wrote.

According to Durov, countries that were once considered free are increasingly adopting more «gloomy» measures.

As an example, he pointed to the introduction of a national digital identification system in the UK.

Authorities believe that this will help combat illegal employment and streamline access to essential government services. Citizens have opposed the so-called BritCards, likening the idea to the plots of George Orwell’s books.

Immediately after the announcement, a petition appeared on the government’s website, which had garnered over 2.8 million signatures at the time of writing.

Durov also mentioned Australia, where a system for age verification will begin implementation in December 2025. This will cover nearly all digital services, from search engines and social networks to app stores and AI assistants.

Authorities intend to apply a comprehensive approach, which includes:

All users, regardless of whether they are registered on platforms, will need to undergo verification. For users under the age of 18, safe search will automatically be activated to filter inappropriate content.

As reported by *The Guardian*, supporters of the initiative, including child welfare organizations, reference a recent incident involving Elon Musk’s *Grok* app, which features a pornographic chat but still holds a «12+» age rating in the Apple Store.

Amid concerns over limitations and a tragic incident involving a teenager, OpenAI has already launched a separate version of ChatGPT with parental controls for users under 18.

Experts have described the new rules as a «monstrous and excessive response.» Regular users are also expressing their dissatisfaction.

*“This has nothing to do with protecting children. It’s Rupert Murdoch and his allies trying to regain control over Australian media through censorship—under the guise of ‘bipartisan consensus.’ They have completely lost their levers of influence and are now desperate to impose total control over Australians’ information diet,”* shared one Reddit user.

Currently, the European Union is considering a controversial bill titled «Chat Control.» It proposes the implementation of a system that scans citizens’ private messages using AI algorithms, under the pretext of detecting child sexual abuse material.

The document includes provisions for implementing the system in end-to-end encrypted services like Telegram, WhatsApp, and Signal, and may also introduce mandatory age verification for all digital platforms.

*“What was once a promise of free information exchange is turning into a complete tool of control. […] Our generation risks going down in history as the last to have freedoms—and the one that allowed them to be taken away,”* Durov stated.

Users, including Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin, criticized the bill and launched a campaign called *Fight Chat Control*. According to the organization’s website, 12 countries support the initiative, while nine oppose it.

On October 9, Germany rejected the bill. However, as noted by Signal president Meredith Whittaker, “the fight is not over yet.” The European Council is now set to review the matter.

It’s worth recalling that in April, Buterin stated that privacy is the foundation of personal freedom and decentralization, protecting society.