WhatsApp CEO Will Cathcart has ignited a heated debate over security and end-to-end encryption with Telegram. He believes Telegram is not as safe as WhatsApp and serves as spyware for the Russian government.
The rivalry between WhatsApp and Telegram has benefited both platforms and users in recent years. On the other hand, privacy and data security have always been a source of dissension, and both platforms have questioned each other’s ability to protect the data at hand. WhatsApp CEO, however, went further and made serious accusations against Telegram.
Will Cathcart referred to an article by Wired that represents Telegram as a platform controlled by the Kremlin. Cathcart says Telegram doesn’t offer end-to-end encryption by default, and group chats are also deprived of it. Additionally, he claims the Telegram end-to-end encryption (E2EE) protocols can’t be independently verified. “Telegram lacks real transparency most technology companies have adopted,” Cathcart added.
Telegram is not end-to-end encrypted by default and offers no e2ee for groups. From the article: “Telegram has the capacity to share nearly any confidential information a government requests”
— Will Cathcart (@wcathcart) February 10, 2023
WhatsApp CEO accused Telegram of collaborating with the Russian government
Besides security protocols, Cathcart also questions Telegram APIs that he believes pave the way for mass surveillance. Jordan Wildon, an investigator at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, also confirms this by claiming it was possible to pinpoint any user within a 2-mile radius if their location has recently turned on.
“In many cases, it’s impossible to tell what’s really happening to people’s accounts—whether spyware or Kremlin informants have been used to break in,” Wired says.
In the end, WhatsApp CEO asks users to stop using Telegram. While this might seem helpful, friendly advice, WhatsApp has a lousy record of protecting users’ data. It was recently hit by a data breach that affected over 500 million people.
Telegram responds to Wired and WhatsApp CEO allegations
The allegations against Telegram have prompted the Dubai-based platform to respond. Telegram spokesperson Remi Vaughn says the Wired article and Will Cathcart’s claims are full of errors, and the outlet’s editorial team ignored responses from the platform.
According to Telegram’s announcement, there are nine errors in the article. For example, location tracking through API is only possible when a user explicitly makes his location publicly visible.
Regarding the other allegation by WhatsApp CEO, Telegram says MTProto 2.0 protocol is verified by a team from the University of Udine. Telegram also suggests users check the authentication keys’ fingerprints through a safe external channel to ensure the privacy of secret chats.
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