Pavel Durov Archives

TrendTechie

February 4, 2025

Telegram заблокировал официальный канал торрент-трекера RuTracker

The RuTracker Telegram channel was removed due to alleged copyright violations. Established in 2017, it had over 27,000 subscribers and provided updates on operational issues. After its deletion, it became unavailable, with users receiving a notification about copyright infringement. RuTracker has been permanently blocked in Russia since January 25, 2016, following a lawsuit from publishing houses. Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, has pledged to improve moderation efforts on the platform.

TrendTechie

February 4, 2025

Overclockers.ru: Telegram заблокировал канал торрент-трекера RuTracker

Telegram has suspended the official channel of the torrent tracker RuTracker (@rutracker_news) for copyright violations. The channel, created in 2017, had around 29,000 subscribers and posted only 21 times since its inception, with the last updates in January 2025 regarding outages. RuTracker, launched in 2004, has faced legal challenges, including a court-ordered block in Russia since 2016, and continues to operate despite being largely inaccessible to most users in Russia. In early 2021, RuTracker raised over 1.8 million rubles through crowdfunding for hard drives to store rare torrents. Telegram's suspension of the channel is part of its stricter policies against internet piracy, which have led to the removal of other channels associated with pirated content, such as Z-Library and Anna’s Archive.

AppWizard

December 24, 2024

Controversial messaging app Telegram is profitable, says its founder. Here’s how it makes money.

Encrypted messaging service Telegram has achieved profitability after 11 years of operation, with revenue surpassing billion in 2024 and cash reserves of 0 million. CEO Pavel Durov attributed this success to advertising and premium subscriptions. The company introduced initiatives like a revenue-sharing model for content creators and a premium subscription tier priced at .99 per month. Telegram has reduced its billion debt and noted a significant turnaround from the previous year, when it reported a loss of million on revenues of million. Despite its financial success, the platform faces global scrutiny over misinformation and limited content moderation, with bans in several countries and a history of being prohibited in Russia from 2018 to 2020.

AppWizard

December 23, 2024

Telegram founder says messaging app profitable for first time

Pavel Durov, founder and CEO of Telegram, announced that the platform achieved a net profit for the first time in 2024, with annual revenues exceeding one billion dollars. Telegram has over 950 million users and has shifted to a monetization model that includes paid subscriptions and advertisements since 2021, resulting in a tripling of premium service subscribers to 12 million. The company has cash reserves exceeding 0 million, excluding cryptocurrency assets. Durov faced legal issues in France related to content management but criticized the authorities' approach. Telegram is using artificial intelligence for content moderation to address misuse, while asserting that 99.999 percent of its users do not engage in criminal activities.

AppWizard

September 27, 2024

Telegram to disclose to authorities phone numbers, IP addresses of those who violate messenger’s rules

Telegram plans to disclose personal information, including phone numbers and IP addresses, to authorities in response to valid legal requests. CEO Pavel Durov announced this decision on September 23, following his legal troubles in France, where he was detained on August 24 and charged with facilitating terrorism and drug trafficking. After his release on bail, Telegram began cooperating with French authorities. A poll indicated that 44% of Ukrainians use Telegram for news, but the Ukrainian government has restricted its use among government agencies due to security concerns. Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine's military intelligence, described Telegram as a "threat to our national security."

AppWizard

September 26, 2024

Ukraine restricts Telegram use for government, military, critical infrastructure

Ukraine has announced restrictions on the use of the Telegram messaging app among government officials, military personnel, and employees of critical infrastructure sectors due to concerns of potential misuse by Russian intelligence and military forces. Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine's military intelligence chief, has labeled Telegram as "harmful" and a "threat to our national security," citing evidence that Russian intelligence services can access users' personal correspondence. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces have confirmed that Telegram is being exploited for cyberattacks, phishing, malware distribution, and geolocating users for missile strikes against Ukrainian targets. Consequently, Ukraine's cybersecurity center has prohibited the use of Telegram on official devices for those in government and military roles, with exceptions for necessary official duties. Telegram's popularity in Ukraine increased after the invasion in 2022, but its anonymous channels have raised concerns about misuse. Additionally, Telegram's CEO, Pavel Durov, has faced legal challenges in France related to the platform.

AppWizard

September 25, 2024

Telegram will now provide some user data to authorities

Telegram will comply with legal requests from authorities, including providing users' IP addresses and phone numbers when presented with valid search warrants, as announced by CEO Pavel Durov. This decision aims to deter criminal activities on the platform. Durov acknowledged that while most of Telegram's nearly one billion users are law-abiding, a small fraction involved in illicit activities affects the platform's reputation. Following Durov's detention by French authorities over allegations related to criminal activities on Telegram, he criticized the authorities for holding him accountable for third-party actions. Critics have raised concerns about the platform's expansive group feature and its association with misinformation and illegal content. Ukraine has banned the app on state-issued devices to mitigate threats from Russia. Durov's arrest has led to discussions about free speech protections online and concerns about the platform's cooperation with authoritarian governments. Telegram plans to enhance its content moderation efforts using artificial intelligence, but experts express skepticism about whether this will meet legal requirements.

AppWizard

September 17, 2024

Telegram threatens Ukraine’s national security, Budanov says

Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, was arrested in Paris on August 24 on charges that he allowed the facilitation of terrorism on his platform. This incident has raised concerns among Ukrainian officials about Telegram's role in the ongoing conflict and its potential misuse for harmful activities. The charges against Durov were formalized by a Paris court on August 28. The situation has prompted calls for increased vigilance among users, potential regulatory scrutiny by governments, and the need for technological solutions to enhance cybersecurity.

AppWizard

September 6, 2024

Will the CEO’s arrest mean the end of Telegram? 3 alternatives to the secure messaging app

Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, was arrested in France as part of an investigation into serious allegations, including the distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Durov faces charges related to fraud, drug trafficking, operating an online platform for illicit transactions, providing cryptographic services to criminals, failing to communicate necessary information to authorities, money laundering, and CSAM. He was charged on August 29 with "complicity" for not adequately addressing illegal content on Telegram and was released on conditional bail set at €5 million, prohibiting him from leaving France. French President Emmanuel Macron clarified that there are no political motivations behind the arrest, emphasizing it is part of an ongoing judicial investigation.

AppWizard

September 3, 2024

Now notorious Telegram app has been used in crimes in Eagle County

Telegram Messenger is under investigation in Eagle County for drug distribution to minors. CEO Pavel Durov was arrested in France on charges of facilitating drug trafficking, fraud, and distributing child sex abuse images via the platform. The case involves Kathya Saenz-Hernandez, who received a 16-year suspended imposition sentence for selling drugs to minors through her Telegram account. The investigation began in March 2022 after a mother reported her child's drug use linked to Telegram. Evidence revealed a channel where various drugs, including marijuana and LSD, were sold. Saenz-Hernandez was arrested on September 26, 2023, and pled guilty to distributing a controlled substance to a minor, receiving a suspended sentence with probation conditions.