Pavel Durov and Telegram
The recent arrest of Telegram founder Pavel Durov has put the spotlight on the controversial service with almost a billion users . Watch our brief video overview to learn more about Telegram's origins, the people behind it, and the ongoing controversies surrounding its funding, encryption practices, and content management. As Telegram comes under close scrutiny as an enabler of transnational organized crime, this video examines the risks it creates for user privacy, and security and the broader implications for our digital world. (Runtime: ~6 min)
Durov - A Timeline
- 2006: Launches VKontakte (VK), a Russian Facebook clone, with his brother Nikolai.
- 2010: With limited oversight and rampant piracy, VK becomes the largest social network in Russia, .
- 2011: VK becomes a crucial tool for social and political activism in an increasingly turbulent Russia.
- 2013: Faces pressure from Russian authorities to hand over user data and censor content.
- 2013: Starts and self-funds Telegram as an antidote, focusing on user privacy and security.
- 2014: Forced out of VK and moves abroad, cites intimidation from the Russian government.
- 2017: Telegram gains global popularity, especially under authoritarian regimes. Still self funded.
- 2017: Hands-off approach makes Telegram a hub for trolls, extremists, and criminals.
- 2018: Russian authorities attempt to ban Telegram, but fail due to the app's decentralized structure.
- 2018: Announces the Telegram Open Network (TON) and a new cryptocurrency, raises $1.7 billion.
- 2019: Due to procedural irregularities, the SEC fines and shuts down TON, resulting in the loss of $1.7 billion.
- 2020: Telegram makes various unsuccessful attempts to generate revenue.
- 2021: Telegram raises $1.75 billion from unnamed private investors.
- 2021: Around this time, the Russian government effectively stops trying to ban Telegram.
- 2022: Telegram becomes a significant platform for both sides of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
- 2024: Arrested in France for enabling illegal transactions, child sexual abuse, and a refusal to cooperate with law enforcement.
Suggested Further Reading
Telegram has become a window into war - theverge.com
Who is funding Telegram? How a decade of unprofitability hasn't stopped the messenger app from growing - pravda.com.ua
Is Telegram really unrelated to Russia? (in Ukrainian) - vector media
SEC Halts Alleged $1.7 Billion Unregistered Digital Token Offering - sec.gov
Vkontakte.ru accused of collaborating with secret service to strangle anti-Putin user activity - east-west digital news
VKontakt collaboration with Russian Government (in Russian) - novayagazeta.ru archived snapshot
Facebook, Telegram, and the Ongoing Struggle Against Online Hate Speech - carnegieendowment.org
Telegram’s Embrace of Contradiction - lawfaremedia.org