Popular messaging platform Telegram is reaching one billion monthly active users, according to its founder, Pavel Durov. Durov, speaking to American journalist Tucker Carlson, emphasized the rapid development of the application and the commitment to neutrality.
The Dubai-based platform was founded by Russian Durov, who left Russia in 2014 after refusing to shut down opposition communities at his previous company, VK.
Today, Telegram, with 900 million active users, is facing pressure from governments such as the US, which are calling for stricter content control. Durov, however, insists on neutrality, refusing to censor or align himself with any side.
Durov's attitude brings him into confrontation with giants such as Meta (WhatsApp) and the A (Google), which accuses of internet censorship and control.
Telegram, with its particular influence in former Soviet countries, has emerged as a key source of information on the war in Ukraine, offering unfiltered content from all sides.
Despite his success, Durov claims to be committed to freedom and independence. Avoids luxury, keeping only cash or Bitcoin, and chooses the United Arab Emirates as its headquarters because of its neutrality.
Telegram's trajectory, with its rapid growth and Durov's intransigence, brings to the fore critical questions about free speech, Internet control, and the balance between neutrality and censorship.
