As you may have heard, we have recently launched encrypted voice calls for Telegram. They are super-easy to use and improve themselves over time using machine learning.
Personally, I rarely make voice calls. When I lived in Russia, I developed the habit of NEVER speaking over the phone, as every conversation was being recorded by corrupt law enforcement agencies. This habit stayed with me even after I left Russia a few years ago. I don't expect agencies in other countries to have more respect for privacy than their Russian counterparts. In my opinion, they're the same everywhere, some are just better at marketing.
My phone habits may change now that I use secure calls via Telegram to communicate with my team and family members. Unfortunately, not everyone in the world will be able to enjoy the same.
In countries like Saudi Arabia, Telegram traffic is throttled in order to discourage usage. In others, like China and Oman, it's blocked completely. In Iran, where Telegram has some 40 million active users, Telegram voice calls have been completely blocked by the country's internet providers and mobile operators following an order from the judiciary (more about this here – http://telegra.ph/Telegram-Calls-in-Iran-NEWS).
Telegram has historically had problems with regulators in some parts of the world because, unlike other services, we consistently defended our users' privacy and have never made any deals with governments. In three and a half years of existence to date, Telegram disclosed exactly zero bytes of users' data to any third-party.
Services like WhatsApp, on the other hand, are not blocked in China, Saudi Arabia, Iran, or other countries with a history of censorship. This is the case because WhatsApp (and its parent company Facebook) are eager to trade user trust for an increased market share. The claim that “WhatsApp and third parties can’t read or listen to your WhatsApp messages and calls” – is completely false. WhatsApp actually can read and listen in to your calls and messages, as they are able to invisibly change the encryption keys for 99.99% of their users (more about this backdoor-disguised-as-a-feature here – http://telegra.ph/whatsapp-backdoor-01-16). So much for "End-to-End Encryption".
Moreover, third parties like Google or Apple have direct access to most of WhatsApp's users' chat history. This is because WhatsApp tricked the majority of users into allowing third party backups. And the sharing doesn't stop with just these third parties. Apple and Google in turn have to deal with data requests from all the countries they have business in, and so the data flows.
By claiming that they are secure, our competitors may be involved in the single largest case of consumer fraud in human history.
By comparison, Telegram relies on end-to-end encryption assisted by a built-in encrypted and distributed cloud for messages and media. The relevant decryption keys are split into parts and are spread across different jurisdictions. This structure makes your cloud data a hundred times more protected and secure than when it is stored by Google, Facebook, or Apple.
No wonder governments and regulators are unhappy with Telegram. Well, let them block us as much as they want. We won't change our principles or betray our users. I know it’s not great to have Telegram (or parts of it) restricted in your country. But sometimes it’s better to stop using a communication service entirely than to keep using it with misplaced trust in its security.
It's why I avoided voice calls for years, in Russia and beyond. It's also why I'm coming back to them now, on Telegram.
FAQs
Who is the owner of Telegram? Pavel Durov founded Telegram in 2013 and effectively still owns the entire company.
Who is the owner of Telegram Wallet? ›
Wealth. Durov was listed on the Forbes Billionaires List in 2023, with a net worth of $11.5 billion. His fortune is largely driven by his ownership of Telegram. As of September 2023, Durov was the 148th richest person in the world.
What country is Telegram from? ›
Telegram was launched in 2013 by brothers Nikolai and Pavel Durov, the founders of Russian VK, Russia's largest social network. Telegram Messenger LLP is an independent nonprofit company based in Berlin, Germany.
Where is Pavel Durov now? ›
Durov, who became a French citizen in 2021, moved himself and Telegram to Dubai in 2017. Since the Ukraine war began, Telegram has become a critical source of information, and plenty of disinformation too, related to the conflict.
Why would someone use Telegram? ›
Telegram is an instant messaging app; people use it to communicate with others. Telegram is popular because it doesn't require a phone number for use. Some people seek out Telegram for its custom security settings, including Secret Chats.
Is Telegram safe? ›
Telegram is a popular messaging app that is widely recognized as a safe channel for online communications. The app creates an encrypted tunnel for messages in transit, which lowers the chances of unauthorized interceptions. Your messages stay encrypted even when they reach Telegram's servers.
Who is the richest man in Telegram? ›
Pavel Valeryevich Durov ( born 10 October 1984) is a Russian-born French-Kittitian–Emirati entrepreneur. He started the social networking site VK and the app Telegram Messenger. He is the younger brother of Nikolai Durov. In 2024 his net worth is estimated at $11.5bn billion.
Is Telegram owned by China? ›
Recent News. Telegram, cloud-based messaging app owned by Russian entrepreneurs Pavel and Nikolai Durov. Telegram users can exchange text messages, hold voice calls, share files, join groups of up to 200,000 members, and subscribe to public broadcast channels.
Which country uses Telegram the most? ›
With an estimated user base of 104 million, India has the most Telegram users.
Is Telegram used in the USA? ›
Telegram has 10 million users per month in the US and is quickly becoming a catch-all messaging app that organizes your texts and messages in one place. The way it works is simple. Telegram collects your texts from every SMS platform on your mobile device, Mac or PC and brings them into one app.
The app is more popular among men than women, with 64% of users being men and 36% being women. Telegram is also popular among people who use it for business purposes.
Is Telegram a Russian site? ›
The Dubai-based platform, boasting over 900 million users worldwide, was founded by Russian entrepreneur Pavel Durov in 2013. In his first major interview in seven years, which he gave to U.S. commentator Tucker Carlson on April 17, Durov vowed Telegram aims to be a "neutral platform" and not a "player in geopolitics."
How does Telegram make money? ›
Telegram usually makes money from its founders, which is a significant Telegram income source. Telegram also started offering a variety of in-app purchases, such as premium stickers and emoji packs. These purchases generate revenue for Telegram through the App Store and Google Play Store.
Is Telegram better than WhatsApp? ›
Both apps have business-specific features and integrations. WhatsApp collects basic data, offers end-to-end encryption, and allows the deletion of messages within a limited time frame. In contrast, Telegram lacks default end-to-end encryption but offers self-destructing messages and secret chats for enhanced privacy.
Who controls Telegram? ›
Telegram is owned by its founders: Pavel Durov and Nikolai Durov. The two brothers founded Telegram back in 2013 while they were still residing in Russia.
Is Telegram a US company? ›
History. Telegram was started in 2013 by the brothers Nikolai and Pavel Durov, the creators of VK. Telegram is registered as a company in the British Virgin Islands and as an LLC in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
Which countries banned Telegram? ›
The first to deactivate Telegram was China where it was "switched off" in 2015 in the face of the messages opposing the communist regime that were disseminated through it. Thailand, Pakistan, Iran, and Cuba have also banned it for similar reasons.
How much is CEO of Telegram worth? ›
In 2023, Durov was reported to have a net worth of $17.5 billion, including bitcoin, toncoin and Telegram stock.
