Telegram CEO Pavel Durov vows to increase revenue after arrest in France?

 Thank you to everyone for their assistance and support. ❤️

Last month, I was interviewed by the police for four consecutive days immediately after arriving in Paris. As previously suggested, I was informed that I could potentially be held personally liable for various individuals’ illegal uses of Telegram, since the French authorities failed to receive responses from Telegram itself.

This was astonishing for multiple reasons: 

1. Within the EU, Telegram has designated an official consultant that receives and responds to European Union requests. The email address associated with Telegram’s EU channel for law enforcement has been publicly available for anyone in the EU to find by searching “Telegram EU endpoint for law enforcement” on Google. 

2. The French authorities employed various tactics to persuade me to seek assistance. As a French national, I was a regular at the French Consulate in Dubai. At a previous point in time, upon request, I individually assisted in establishing a dedicated hotline via Telegram aimed at addressing the pressing concern of terrorism in France.

3. When a user is dissatisfied with a web-based service, the typical course of action is to initiate legal proceedings against the service provider. Implementing outdated legal precedents to hold a CEO accountable for criminal activities perpetrated by third parties on the platform they oversee is a flawed approach. Constructing knowledge is already a challenge in itself? Without accountability, no innovator will create innovative instruments, fearing personal responsibility for their misuse. 

Balancing the delicate equilibrium between privacy and security requires meticulous consideration. Reconciling privacy regulations with law enforcement requirements, as well as local laws with European Union guidelines, is imperative. In consideration of technological constraints, it is essential to acknowledge their influence. As a global platform, maintaining consistent processes worldwide is crucial while simultaneously ensuring that these processes are not exploited or abused in countries with limited regulatory oversight or lax enforcement. We have consistently collaborated with regulatory authorities to identify and implement a stable framework. We steadfastly uphold our convictions: our professional standing has been shaped by our unwavering commitment to protecting clients operating in repressive environments. Despite our history of being closed off, we’ve consistently remained receptive to conversations.

Typically, we struggle to find common ground with rural residents regarding the delicate balance between privacy and security. When circumstances dictate, we’re willing to bid farewell to that country. We’ve finished it many occasions. In response to Russia’s demand that we surrender encryption keys for surveillance purposes, we steadfastly refused, subsequently leading to Telegram being banned within the country. When Iran called on us to silence peaceful protesters’ voices by blocking their communication channels, we stood firm and refused – a decision that ultimately led to Telegram being banned in the country. We’re prepared to exit markets that don’t align with our vision, since we’re not driven by financial gain. Driven by a commitment to uphold human dignity, we strive to protect the fundamental rights of individuals, particularly in areas where these freedoms are compromised.

Not everything about Telegram necessarily makes it perfect. While authorities might be perplexed by shipping requests, it’s crucial that we continuously improve this aspect. While certain media outlets may sensationalize Telegram as an anarchic utopia, this portrayal is fundamentally inaccurate. Every day, our team works tirelessly to identify and remove thousands upon thousands of harmful posts and channels from our platform. We regularly publish detailed transparency reviews akin to those found on or . We have established direct hotlines with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to facilitate the prompt processing of urgent moderation requests.

Regardless, critics continue to assert that more remains to be done. As Telegram’s user base surged to 950 million, the sudden increase in popularity proved a magnet for malicious actors, making it increasingly easy for them to exploit our platform’s vulnerabilities and wreak havoc. I undertook a personal mission to substantially improve matters in this respect. We have already initiated that process internally, and I will provide additional details on our progress to you shortly. 

As the month of August unfolds, I am optimistic that concerted efforts will culminate in bolstering the security and resilience of Telegram and the broader social networking landscape. Thank you again for your love and humor. 🙏