2024-08-31 22:44:17
After the arrest of the Telegram founder
These are the alternative messengers at a glance
30.08.2024Reading time: 3 min.
Following the investigations against Telegram founder Pavel Durov, many users are concerned about the security and integrity of the platform. There are alternatives.
The French judiciary has opened an investigation against Pavel Durov. The founder of the controversial messaging service Telegram is accused of being complicit in drug trafficking, money laundering, fraud and several crimes related to child abuse through a lack of intervention and inadequate cooperation with the authorities.
Telegram denies the allegations. In a statement, the company writes that they comply with all rules – including the new digital law DSA. Durow has nothing to hide and it is absurd to hold a platform or its owner responsible for misuse by third parties.
Telegram’s user numbers have risen sharply in recent years. Compared to other providers, the messenger stands out due to its combination of security, speed, versatility and openness. However, there are always concerns about data protection and the spread of misinformation on the platform.
Durov’s arrest could lead to a loss of trust among many users. We present the advantages and disadvantages of the most popular alternatives.
WhatsApp is the most used messenger service in the world. Compared to Telegram, it is more widely used because many contacts already use the service. In addition, end-to-end encryption is activated by default, and with Telegram, the data ends up in the cloud.
However, its affiliation with Meta (formerly Facebook) raises significant privacy concerns for many users. In addition, WhatsApp offers fewer features for groups and channels and requires sharing the phone number.
Signal is considered particularly secure and is recommended by data protection advocates. Compared to Telegram, the service is characterized by open source software, and the programming code is publicly accessible. Here, too, end-to-end encryption for all messages is activated by default. In addition, Signal hardly collects any user metadata.
The main disadvantages of the app are the smaller user base than Telegram. Signal also offers fewer features for large groups and public channels. And here too, sharing the phone number is required.
The Swiss messenger Threema places a strong emphasis on privacy. In contrast to Telegram, no phone number is required for registration and end-to-end encryption for all messages and calls is activated by default. In addition, the company regularly deletes the server data.
However, Threema also has significantly fewer users than Telegram and offers fewer functions for large groups. The service also costs around six euros once.
The messenger Wire, also developed in Switzerland, is particularly suitable for companies and teams. Compared to Telegram, this service also offers end-to-end encryption for all messages and calls and places great emphasis on integration with other tools.
The disadvantages of Wire are that it has significantly fewer users than Telegram, it offers fewer features for large public groups, and it is paid for by business users.
Element is based on the decentralized Matrix protocol. Compared to Telegram, the service offers an open protocol through which many different clients are available. Users also have the option of running their own servers.
The disadvantages are more complex operation for beginners and a smaller user base. In addition, Element is less optimized for mobile use on smartphones.
Slack is particularly popular in the business environment. Compared to Telegram, the service is characterized by extensive integration options with other business tools. Slack also offers good organizational options for teams and projects as well as a powerful search function for messages and files.
However, the tool was primarily designed for corporate communication. As a result, the provider places less emphasis on privacy and encryption than Telegram – and there is a charge for advanced features.
Discord was originally developed for gamers, but is increasingly being used for other purposes. Compared to Telegram, the service offers extensive functions for groups and communities. Users also benefit from better voice and video conferencing options as well as integration with many other services and platforms.
On the other hand, Discord is less privacy-focused and thus does not offer end-to-end encryption. Also, the user interface is a bit complicated for beginners.