Telegram CEO Durov has criticized WhatsApp regarding the platform's security and encryption practices, El.kz reports citingTelegram Channel.

"WhatsApp’s “End-to-end encryption by default” claim is a giant consumer fraud.

He explained that even with the stated protection, data can be stored in an unencrypted format.

"95% of private messages on WhatsApp end up in plain-text backupson Apple/Google servers — not E2E-encrypted. Backup encryption is optional, and few people enable it — let alone use strong passwords.”

Durov noted that the security of a conversation does not depend on one person alone.

"Even if you encrypt your WhatsApp backups with a strong password, your messages still end up in unencrypted cloud backups — because 90%+ of the people you message haven’t done the same..."

Additionally, Durov drew attention to metadata and interactions with third parties.

"Add the fact that WhatsApp stores and discloses who you chat with, and the picture is dire."

In conclusion, he compared the practices of his competitors with Telegram’s own policy.

"Apple and Google disclose backed-up WhatsApp messages to third parties thousands of times per year. Meanwhile, Telegram hasn’t disclosed a single byte of users’ messages in its entire 12+ year history."