The FSB faces a class-action lawsuit from Telegram users over privacy violations

Thirty-five users of the instant messaging app Telegram have filed a class-action lawsuit against Russia’s Federal Security Agency in Moscow’s Mashchansky Court, arguing that the FSB has illegally ordered Telegram to decrypt their private messages. Represented by lawyers from the “Roskomsvoboda” organization, the Telegram users’ lawsuit says the FSB’s demands violate their rights to privacy and secret correspondence.

The plaintiffs also claim that surrendering Telegram’s encryption keys to the FSB could lead to an unlimited number of people gaining access to all Telegram users’ confidential data.

What’s the conflict between Telegram and the FSB?

Last year, Russia’s federal media regulator forced Telegram to register as an “information disseminator,” in accordance with new “anti-terrorism” legislation. As a result, the Federal Security Service ordered Telegram to decode all messages sent over the network. When Telegram refused, it was fined 800,000 rubles ($14,000). The messenger is challenging the FSB’s demands in the Supreme Court, which will consider the appeal on March 20.

In December 2017, Roskomsvoboda announced a public campaign to support Telegram, inviting users to join a class-action suit against the FSB.