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Pavel Durov

What Pavel Durov thinks about privacy

@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.

6 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 centersTelegram

    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

    Telegram

    Interesting

  5. Our readingThe right to privacy is fundamental; without it people cannot feel fully free and protected.

    Their wordsI think it's fundamental. Without the right to privacy, people can't feel fully free and protected.

    ↗Pavel Durov: Telegram, Freedom, Censorship, Money, Power & Human Nature | Lex Fridman Podcast #482youtube.com 12th of 28 in this recording

    Interesting

  7. 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

    Telegram

    Interesting

  9. Our readingAn app's encryption claims can only be verified with open source and reproducible builds, which WhatsApp has never offered.

    Their wordsYou need reproducible builds in order to verify that the app really does what it claims, really encrypts data in a way that it is described on its website. For that you need to make your apps open source for any researchers to have a look at it.

    ↗Pavel Durov: Telegram, Freedom, Censorship, Money, Power & Human Nature | Lex Fridman Podcast #482youtube.com 20th of 28 in this recording

    open source

    Interesting

  11. 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

    Telegram

    Interesting