as a counter point, here's telegram's answer to this article https://telegra.ph/Wired-Errors

While very long, it doesn't look like that article provides anything but speculation. What would you say is the key point? Where's the meat?

I know that it would be hard to get good evidence here but I still think the burden of proof lies on the more extreme claim. Which to me is that a company founded by someone fleeing oppression would work directly with the oppressor.

The example of messages appearing as 'read' does not imply to me that telegram is working with them - rather that the her app was compromised by other means. Otherwise, why create such a flaw in your monitoring?

Meduza - news organization criminally charged in russia operating in latvia - is mostly accessed in russia via telegram. It's hard but not impossible to imagine that the russian government would allow it to remain uncensored.

The agreement with the Russian Government over "Terrorism" cases is not just speculation, but announced by both parties.

That would be damning if I could find a statement by telegram about how they are working with the russian government to deal with 'terrorism'.

I'm seeing quoted statements by the russian government in the article that I cannot verify elsewhere but I'm unable to see telegram making a statement from their side of working with the russian government.

I'm truly interested in getting to the bottom of this. This wired piece doesn't inspire a lot of confidence in it's trustworthiness but I'm unable to find something with more concrete sources or at least a better reputation.