Telegram founder Pavel Durov has sharply criticized WhatsApp’s security, calling users “brain-dead” if they trust the app. His remarks come after a U.S. class-action lawsuit accused Meta, WhatsApp’s parent company, of misleading users about the privacy of their messages.
Earlier, on January 26, Durov posted on X: “You’d have to be brain-dead to believe WhatsApp is secure in 2026. When we analyzed how WhatsApp implemented its ‘encryption,’ we found multiple attack vectors.” As a result, his comments quickly drew widespread attention across social media and tech circles.
Class-Action Lawsuit Challenges WhatsApp Privacy
The lawsuit, filed by an international group of complainants in a U.S. federal court, accuses Meta of making false claims about WhatsApp’s privacy and security. Despite its end-to-end encryption claims, plaintiffs insist Meta still has access to, stores, and analyzes most private communications
Whistleblowers inside Meta reportedly provided evidence backing the claims, the complaint states. Plaintiffs argue that WhatsApp deceives users with in-app notifications assuring that “only people in this chat can read, listen to, or share” their content.
Meta rejected the allegations. Andy Stone, a Meta spokesperson, called the lawsuit “categorically false and absurd.” He described it as “foolish” and added that the company would pursue sanctions against plaintiffs’ lawyers.
Meanwhile, WhatsApp head Will Cathcart dismissed the case as a “no-merit, headline-seeking lawsuit.” He explained that encryption keys stay on users’ devices, preventing WhatsApp from reading messages.
Tech Leaders Question Messaging Security
Durov’s criticism echoes broader concerns about messaging privacy. Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently questioned WhatsApp’s security while promoting his own platform, X Chat. “WhatsApp is not secure. Even Signal is questionable. Use X Chat,” Musk tweeted.
Despite these debates, experts note differences in encryption methods. WhatsApp uses the Signal protocol to secure user communications by default. In contrast, Telegram and X Chat do not provide the same level of comprehensive encryption. Forbes reported that this distinction makes Telegram and X Chat less secure for end-to-end private messaging, despite Durov’s public confidence in Telegram.
Telegram, launched by Durov in 2013, has grown to over one billion active users globally. Before Telegram, Durov created VK, one of Russia’s most popular social media networks. His influence and outspoken opinions on digital security continue to shape discussions in the tech industry.
As the lawsuit moves forward, scrutiny of messaging apps is expected to grow. Users, regulators, and tech executives will continue debating which platforms truly protect privacy.Durov’s recent remarks have further stirred the debate, highlighting the critical role of secure communication in 2026.
