Pavel Durov, CEO of Telegram, was arrested in France for his app’s potential use by criminals. Despite this, Telegram remains unique, combining messaging, social networking, and blogging. Users can create channels and groups with up to 200,000 members, making it central to their lives.
A very popular app… in some countries
Despite claiming over 900 million users globally, Telegram is less popular in Western Europe. With only around one million users in France, the app avoids heavy fines under the European Digital Services Act due to its lower user count in the EU.
Virtually no moderation
Telegram’s standout feature is its lack of censorship and minimal cooperation with legal requests. It champions freedom of speech and is difficult to block, making it popular in countries with restricted communication. Political dissidents in Russia and Iran also find solace in Telegram.
Who is Pavel Durov, Russia’s libertarian ‘Robin Hood’ of the internet?
Subscribers only Pavel Durov’s arrest is a defense of the rule of law rather than an attack on freedom of expression