How the messenger platform "Telegram" became so popular? How is it different from others? And what should users expect after the arrest of its founder Pavel Durov?
Millions of people use the social network "Telegram" as a communication platform. But for others, it is much more than that. There you can exchange messages, photos, files, make phone and video calls - and everything is encrypted. Users can also open their own group, where they can gather up to 200,000 members, or a channel, where there is no user limit, and this gives many a huge influence.
All its features make "Telegram" particularly popular. However, some critics blame the platform for fueling the recent anti-immigrant riots in Britain. Others point to the disinformation campaigns targeting supporters of Ukraine, as well as the illegal activities in "Telegram" - from drug trafficking to the illegal sale of weapons.
What does "Telegram" different?
What distinguishes "Telegram" from other messaging platforms is its focus on privacy and anti-censorship. It is therefore popular in countries with authoritarian regimes or in places where people are monitored and eavesdropped. Opposition political formations are among the users in different countries. Many use Telegram to avoid their data going to big tech giants or advertisers. Others have even been blocked by "Facebook" or "Twitter" and have found a berth in "Telegram".
At the beginning of this year, more than 800 million active users were registered on the platform. This is a huge increase from 2021, when they were 300 million. The data analysis company "Demand Sage" expected by the end of the year in "Telegram" already have 1 billion users. On its own site, the platform reports that it already has over 950 million. In some parts of the world "Telegram" is the most popular messaging platform.
Where does "Telegram" come from?
"Telegram" was founded in 2013 in St. Petersburg by Russian-born Pavel Durov and his brother Nikolai. Pavel Durov is currently the CEO of the company. Before creating Telegram, the two founded VKontakte, or VK, in 2006. This social platform was a huge success, but it caught the attention of the Russian authorities. In 2014, Durov left Russia in self-imposed exile, sold his part of VK and kept "Telegram".
After stops in Berlin, London and Singapore, the company's team is now based in Dubai. But nothing lasts forever in the digital world, and the company threatens to move at any moment. "We are currently happy with Dubai, although we are open to relocating if local regulations change," says their website.
However, they may have to pack up earlier than expected. On August 24, the 39-year-old billionaire and director of "Telegram" Pavel Durov was arrested in France. Durov's detention is the first of its kind and came as a surprise to many. He has been charged as part of an investigation into crimes related to child pornography, drug trafficking and fraudulent transactions on the platform, French prosecutors said on Monday.
What's next for "Telegram"?
With the attention being drawn to "Telegram" attention is also drawn to the widely advertised security promise. Experts point out that messages in "Telegram" are not automatically encrypted; users must select this option. The application also uses its own encryption tools and does not allow them to be tested by outsiders. If privacy protocols are proven to be inadequate, the news could end the company's greatest asset.
In addition to disrupting Telegram's day-to-day operations, Durov's arrest is likely to alarm users, who may wonder what the company is revealing to get out of jail. By taking on Telegram, governments are prompting a discussion about free speech, censorship, free information and control of global digital platforms.
By holding the company's founder accountable, authorities are trying to impose greater controls on illegal activities, slow down online conspiracy theories, extremism and terrorist recruitment, among other things. With so much to lose "Telegram" is likely to pull out every possible argument to avoid more serious regulation. As the company makes it clear, it is ready to make changes if necessary. But where can he hide from these problems?