Telegram CEO speaks out.

Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of Telegram, is currently facing legal troubles in France. However, he maintains that these accusations are unfounded and argues that this is a natural consequence of his unwavering commitment to protecting privacy and freedom of speech, core values that Telegram has always upheld.

Telegram, a platform used by over a billion people globally, was created with the mission of being a safe, independent space free from external influences. Mr. Durov stated that from its inception, Telegram has consistently rejected acquisition offers, most notably a $1 billion offer from Google in 2017.

"The Telegraph is not a commodity to be sold. It is a promise of freedom," Durov asserted.

They call themselves "ambassadors of freedom".

One of the key factors that helps Telegram maintain its neutrality is its unique governance structure, with Durov currently being the company's sole shareholder, not sharing control with any outside investors. From the experience of losing control of VKontakte, Russia's largest social network, he learned a valuable lesson: only absolute independence can guarantee protection from external influence.

Telegram stands out for its strict privacy policies. Durov asserts that the platform cannot and has never read users' private messages. Messages are end-to-end encrypted, and even in the event of a court order, the messaging app only provides basic metadata such as IP addresses or phone numbers.

Pavel Durov believes in Telegram's mission. Photo: Bloomberg .

"We have never disclosed a single private message in our entire history. Telegram does not take sides. This is a prerequisite for protecting access rights and ensuring fairness for users," said the Telegram CEO.

Durov also expressed concerns about legal mechanisms such as the US ban, as well as preventing governments from installing surveillance tools into source code. The Telegram founder asserted that the company would not become a "spy" for regulatory agencies, and denied all rumors that the messaging app hosts servers in Russia.

Telegram will not "sell itself".

Durov stated that Telegram is based on a unique technological and operational strategy. Not driven by profit, Telegram is sustained by the CEO's personal finances, primarily from the sale of VKontakte shares and early investments in cryptocurrencies.

"I don't receive a salary from Telegram and I've never received dividends. It's an expense, not revenue," Durov shared.

Despite not receiving a salary, Durov never wavered, even when Telegram had to repay a $2 billion grant after the company's blockchain project was blocked by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Durov keeps Telegram running out of his own money. Photo: Bloomberg .

Telegram currently operates with a core team of approximately 50 people in Dubai, along with over 1,000 global collaborators, primarily content moderators. This streamlined strategy allows the company to be flexible and agile in technical and operational coordination without falling into a spiral of uncontrolled expansion.

Durov also believes that artificial intelligence (AI) will play a crucial role in keeping Telegram a safe and effective platform. Currently, AI is being used to automatically detect and remove up to 99% of infringing content, a massive amount of work that humans cannot handle manually.

"I want Telegram to continue to exist for the long term, uncontrolled, and always true to its philosophy of freedom and privacy," Durov said.

Choose your own path.

With Telegram, Durov stated that he wasn't simply building a messaging tool, but rather a communication ecosystem where users weren't monitored by algorithms. Given that most major messaging platforms use the same encryption technology, the Telegram CEO questioned the lack of diversity and systemic risk in the industry.

"Why are all the major messaging services using the same technology? It seems like alternative technology options are being discouraged," Durov observed.

Durov wants Telegram to take a different approach than its competitors. Photo: Bloomberg .

Telegram chose to forge its own path by developing its own infrastructure, designing its own encryption system, and maintaining complete control. The platform regularly meets with industry leaders, such as the head of Signal, to discuss technology. However, Durov stated that he always maintains neutrality and does not align with any interest group.

Regarding the wave of generative AI, Durov is not overly optimistic. According to him, current language models simply reuse data and cannot think like humans. "We are fooled by complex languages, but those models aren't truly intelligent," Durov added.

Currently, by maintaining a minimal workforce, Telegram has avoided the pitfalls often faced by large tech companies. The Russian CEO emphasizes that his mission is to create a platform that empowers users with freedom of speech, where they are in control of how they access information.

Source: https://znews.vn/ceo-telegram-len-tieng-post1562394.html