Durov Calls for Privacy-First Human Verification Over ID Surveillance

🔐 Durov's surveillance warning

By Mercle
Feb 6, 2026, 4:12 PM
twitter

Telegram founder Pavel Durov argues that mandatory age verification through ID uploads represents surveillance rather than genuine safety measures.​

Key Points:

  • Traditional age checks requiring ID uploads create mass surveillance infrastructure
  • Durov advocates for cryptographic proof of humanity as an alternative
  • Solution must be privacy-first and universally accessible

This echoes earlier concerns about age verification systems requiring platforms to collect IDs, biometrics, and sensitive documents from all users—not just minors.​

The debate centers on whether protecting children online should necessitate tracking adults.​ Privacy advocates suggest alternatives like parental controls and digital literacy programs could achieve safety goals without compromising user privacy.​

Sources

Durov is right: age checks + ID uploads aren’t “safety”, they’re surveillance. We need cryptographic proof of human which privacy-first, accessible to everyone.

Pavel Durov
Pavel Durov
@durov

Today, Telegram notified all its users in Spain with this alert: Pedro Sánchez’s government is pushing dangerous new regulations that threaten your internet freedoms. Announced just yesterday, these measures could turn Spain into a surveillance state under the guise of

12
Reply
Read more about Mercle

Mercle Launches Human-Only Feature for Identity Verification

**Mercle introduces exclusive human verification feature** The identity verification app has launched a new capability designed specifically for human users, requiring an invite to access. **Key details:** - Feature restricted to verified humans only - Invite-only access currently available - App focuses on combating digital noise with truth verification Users can download the app on both platforms: - [iOS App Store](https://apps.apple.com/in/app/mercle/id6751991316) - [Google Play Store](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mercle.app) The timing suggests Mercle is positioning itself as a solution for authentic human interaction in an increasingly AI-dominated digital landscape.

Web3 Faces Growing Bot Crisis as Fake Activity Manipulates Rewards Systems

**Bot infiltration threatens Web3 authenticity** as automated accounts create fake activity and manipulate reward systems across the ecosystem. The problem extends beyond Web3: - Social platforms flooded with bot accounts - AI-generated fake stores stealing real money - Dating apps swarmed with fake profiles - Gaming bots manipulating competitive environments **AI advancement outpaces human verification** - bots are now cheap, infinitely scalable, while humans remain limited. **The core issue**: Without portable, privacy-respecting proof of human identity, distinguishing real users from bots becomes nearly impossible. **Why this matters**: As AI capabilities surge, the absence of reliable human verification creates systemic risks across all digital interactions. The solution lies in developing robust identity verification systems that can prove unique human participation without compromising privacy.

AI Trading Bot Shows Promising Results in Crypto Markets

A new AI-powered trading system called Unfair has demonstrated notable performance in cryptocurrency markets. The platform, developed by Mercle, appears to be leveraging artificial intelligence to understand and navigate trading patterns. - The system claims to identify market inefficiencies - Currently in testing phase - Available for preview at [unfair.mercle.ai](https://unfair.mercle.ai) *Note: As with all trading systems, past performance does not guarantee future results. Users should conduct their own research.*

SocialGamesPlay to Earn