Durov Archives

AppWizard

July 31, 2026

Pavel Durov’s Telegram messaging app faces new terror charges. Now in Australia.

Australian authorities have initiated legal proceedings against Telegram for alleged negligence in removing content linked to terrorism, including footage from the March 2019 Christchurch mosque shooting that resulted in 51 deaths. Australia’s Safety Commissioner, Julie Inman-Grant, stated that Telegram could face penalties of up to 0,000 for violating the Online Safety Act. Telegram has rejected the allegations and plans to contest them in court, emphasizing its commitment to combating extremist content by blocking thousands of extremist communities in 2026. The platform also hosts various crypto-related discussions but has not commented further on the legal situation.

AppWizard

July 31, 2026

Russia Designates Telegram Founder Pavel Durov As A ‘Terrorist’

Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, was designated as a "terrorist" and "extremist" by Russia's FSB on July 29, ahead of parliamentary elections in September, due to claims that Ukrainian intelligence services extensively use Telegram. Durov, who has dual citizenship in France and the UAE, publicly expressed defiance against this classification by sharing content emphasizing "freedom of expression." This designation aligns him legally with Aleksei Navalny, though it does not extend to the Telegram platform itself. Telegram remains popular in Russia despite regulatory challenges and has been used by Russian intelligence services. Durov has resisted government pressure to allow access to the app's security infrastructure. The FSB is attempting to tighten control over Telegram, but its significance for political mobilization complicates these efforts. Additionally, Durov faces legal threats in Europe related to content moderation on Telegram.

AppWizard

July 30, 2026

Australia’s online watchdog is taking messaging app Telegram to court over ‘pro-terrorist’ posts

Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, has filed a lawsuit against the encrypted messaging app Telegram for allegedly failing to detect and remove pro-terrorist and extremist content. This legal action follows a year-long investigation and is the first enforcement of online codes regarding unlawful material established a year ago. The lawsuit details multiple violations of the Online Safety Act 2021, including the failure to remove posts related to the Christchurch mosque attack and the Buffalo mass shooting, despite user reports. Telegram has claimed to have blocked over 150,000 terrorist-related communities and removed over 200 million pieces of terrorist content. If the lawsuit is successful, it could lead to penalties up to A.6 million and potentially a ban on the app in Australia.

AppWizard

July 30, 2026

Australian watchdog files legal action against Telegram, saying it failed to remove violent content

Australia's eSafety watchdog has initiated legal proceedings against the messaging platform Telegram for allegedly failing to adequately remove extremist content, including footage related to mass shootings in Buffalo and Christchurch, as well as material linked to the Islamic State. The platform, with a user base of approximately 1 billion, could face fines of up to 54.6 million Australian dollars (around 38 million USD) if found guilty. eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant emphasized that the content in question is tied to severe acts of extremist violence and remained accessible despite Telegram being notified of its existence. Following recent tragedies, Telegram channels have surfaced that celebrate attackers and circulate videos of their acts. Telegram has denied the allegations, claiming to block terrorist-related content and reporting the removal of over 150,000 terrorist-related communities this year. However, Inman Grant raised concerns about the platform's compliance and responsiveness to regulatory actions.

AppWizard

July 30, 2026

Russia accuses Telegram CEO Pavel Durov of aiding terrorism in its latest digital crackdown

Russian authorities have charged Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of Telegram, with aiding terrorism, amid a crackdown on online freedoms since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The Federal Security Service (FSB) accused Telegram of failing to remove channels used by Ukrainian intelligence and extremist groups, leading to human casualties. Durov, residing abroad, is on international wanted lists and could face a life sentence if convicted. Telegram has over 1 billion global users and has not commented on the charges. Under President Putin, Russia has enforced strict internet censorship, banning major social media platforms and blocking messaging apps like Signal and Viber. Despite restrictions, many Russian officials still use Telegram. Durov was also arrested in Paris in 2024 for allegedly allowing illicit activities on the platform, and he remains under investigation in France. Additionally, Russia has been accused of using Telegram for its own recruitment efforts related to sabotage.

AppWizard

July 29, 2026

Russia charges Telegram founder Pavel Durov with terrorism, issues arrest warrant

The Federal Security Service (FSB) of Russia has charged Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, with facilitating terrorist activities and has issued an international warrant for his arrest. The charges are based on Telegram's alleged failure to remove content used by Ukrainian special services and terrorist organizations linked to sabotage, terrorism, mass killings, and cyber-fraud operations within Russia. Telegram has over 1 billion users and is a key communication tool during the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Durov, who previously founded VKontakte, has lived abroad since 2014 and holds Emirati and French citizenship. He is also under investigation by French authorities for insufficiently addressing criminal activity on Telegram and not cooperating with law enforcement. Durov denies any wrongdoing.

AppWizard

July 17, 2026

Telegram Trolls France On World Cup 2026 Exit; The Reason Is Not Football At All

Spain defeated France 2-0 in the semifinals of the FIFA World Cup 2026, advancing to the finals. Telegram Messenger expressed schadenfreude over France's exit, tweeting "BYE BYE" with a match result screenshot. Pavel Durov, Telegram's co-founder, faced legal issues in France, including a preliminary investigation into criminal activities involving Telegram, his detention in August 2024, indictment on 12 charges, and a subsequent policy change regarding user data sharing with authorities. Durov characterized his arrest as politically motivated, while Elon Musk criticized the situation, questioning the scrutiny faced by tech leaders.

AppWizard

July 16, 2026

Russia’s Max Messenger Removed From Google Play

Max, a messaging application launched by VK in 2025 and endorsed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, was removed from Google’s Play marketplace on July 16, 2023. The app does not provide end-to-end encryption, raising concerns about government access to user communications. This removal is part of a trend affecting other VK-owned applications, coinciding with recent EU sanctions targeting VK Company and its subsidiary Communication Platform LLC, which oversees the Max app. The EU characterized Max as having extensive surveillance features used against critics of Russia's military actions in Ukraine. Apple also removed Max from its App Store in June without explanation. Max aims to be an all-encompassing platform for messaging, social media, digital identification, payments, banking, and government services, which critics say could enhance government monitoring of citizens. The Russian government has implemented strict measures against foreign social media platforms and previously enacted a ban on Telegram in 2026, which faced public backlash.

AppWizard

June 18, 2026

India’s solution to entrance exam fraud: A temporary ban on Telegram

On June 13, 2026, the National Students Union of India (NSUI) held a protest in Hyderabad against alleged exam paper leaks related to the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET). The Indian government temporarily blocked access to the messaging platform Telegram to combat exam fraud, with the National Testing Agency (NTA) announcing the ban will last until June 22 and disabling the message editing feature until June 30. The NEET-UG exam was canceled on May 12, affecting approximately 2.2 million students, following allegations of a paper leak. Telegram channels were found soliciting payments for leaked exam papers, while the NTA denied any papers were available outside secured channels. Political ramifications included calls from opposition leader Rahul Gandhi for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The Cockroach Janta Party organized protests nationwide demanding accountability for the examination discrepancies.

AppWizard

June 18, 2026

Telegram vs Jio: Messaging app founder alleges cyberattack, Reliance responds

Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, has raised concerns about accessibility issues on his platform, attributing them to a technique called "BGP hijacking," which redirects internet traffic. He alleges that these disruptions affect users beyond India, including in the UAE, and suggests that Reliance Jio, an Indian telecom operator partly owned by Meta, may be involved in sabotaging access to Telegram. Reliance Jio has denied these allegations, stating they operate in accordance with global internet routing best practices. BGP hijacking occurs when a network falsely claims to be the preferred route, causing disruptions in internet traffic. There are indications that the network in question may be linked to Reliance Communications rather than Reliance Jio. The situation is complicated by a temporary block on Telegram in India due to the platform allegedly being used for leaking examination materials.