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Pavel Durov

What Pavel Durov thinks about Telegram

@pavel-durov · 24 positions · 0 changes of mind

Founder of Telegram, and before it of VK.

Pavel Durov did not write this page.

We collected these quotes from things they published elsewhere, and every quote links to where it was said. They have no account here and have not endorsed this site. Quotes are word for word; the short line under each one is our own restatement, not their wording. Their own site. Is this you? Claim it or ask us to remove it. Or tell us what is wrong here.

7 dated positions, 2025, in their own words. Our reading of what Pavel Durov has said — not written or endorsed by them.

  1. Our readingTelegram has never shared a single private message with anyone, governments and intelligence services included.

    Their wordsNo, never. Telegram has never shared a single private message with anyone, including governments and intelligence services. If you try to access any server in any of the data center locations, it's all encrypted.

    ↗Pavel Durov: Telegram, Freedom, Censorship, Money, Power & Human Nature | Lex Fridman Podcast #482youtube.com 10th of 28 in this recording

    data centersprivacy

    Interesting

  3. Our readingTelegram would rather shut down in a country than change its system to let anyone read users' messages, because it promised its users it would not.

    Their wordsNo. We designed a system in a way that's impossible. It'll require us to change the system and we won't do that because we made a promise to our users. We would rather shut Telegram down in a certain country than do that.

    ↗Pavel Durov: Telegram, Freedom, Censorship, Money, Power & Human Nature | Lex Fridman Podcast #482youtube.com 11th of 28 in this recording

    Interesting

  5. Our readingThe French investigation of him should never have been started; a criminal case is the wrong tool for regulating social media.

    Their wordsThe investigation itself should have never been started. It's an absurd and harmful way of solving an issue such as complicated as regulating social media. It is just the wrong tool.

    ↗Pavel Durov: Telegram, Freedom, Censorship, Money, Power & Human Nature | Lex Fridman Podcast #482youtube.com 14th of 28 in this recording

    social media

    Interesting

  7. Our readingHe would rather lose everything than yield to government pressure to block channels, because submitting to something fundamentally wrong breaks a person inside.

    Their wordsAnd I would rather lose everything I have than yield to this pressure because, if you submit to this pressure and agree with something that is fundamentally wrong and violates rights of other people as well, you become broken inside, you become a shell of your former self on a deep biological and spiritual level.

    ↗Pavel Durov: Telegram, Freedom, Censorship, Money, Power & Human Nature | Lex Fridman Podcast #482youtube.com 15th of 28 in this recording

    government

    Interesting

  9. Our readingTelegram's Secret Chats are the most secure means of communication today.

    Their wordsAt the same time, if you were really paranoid, you think, I don't want to be screenshotted, I don't want to have any leaks, I don't even trust Telegram, I only trust code. Secret Chats are the best option. I believe is the most secure means of communication today.

    ↗Pavel Durov: Telegram, Freedom, Censorship, Money, Power & Human Nature | Lex Fridman Podcast #482youtube.com 19th of 28 in this recording

    Interesting

  11. Our readingThere is no such thing as an unbiased source of information; understanding the world means reading conflicting sources that hate each other.

    Their wordsBecause there's no such thing as an unbiased source of information. When the war in Ukraine started in 2022, I instantly realized Telegram is going to be used to spread propaganda by both sides.

    ↗Pavel Durov: Telegram, Freedom, Censorship, Money, Power & Human Nature | Lex Fridman Podcast #482youtube.com 21st of 28 in this recording

    war

    Interesting

  13. Our readingTelegram leaves perhaps 80 percent of its potential revenue on the table by refusing to exploit personal data for advertising.

    Their wordsSo premium is one source of our revenue. We also have ads, but they're context-based, not targeted. Of course, we leave probably 80% of value on the table because we're not ready to engage in all this practices, exploiting personal data.

    ↗Pavel Durov: Telegram, Freedom, Censorship, Money, Power & Human Nature | Lex Fridman Podcast #482youtube.com 22nd of 28 in this recording

    Interesting