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TechRadar
Rene Millman

'They just moved to VPNs' — Telegram CEO slams UK's teen social media ban with stark Russian comparison

Pavel Durov Telegram United Kingdom Russia
Telegram messaging app CEO and co-founder Pavel Durov at UFC 321 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on October 25, 2025. .
  • Telegram CEO criticized the UK's proposed social media ban for teenagers
  • As users did in Russia, Durov claims that teens will simply move to VPNs
  • The UK announced a plan to ban all under-16s from social media platforms

The UK government's controversial plan to ban teenagers from social media is facing fresh criticism from the technology industry. Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has publicly slammed the proposal, comparing the UK's legislative approach to the heavy-handed internet censorship frequently deployed in Russia.

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