Harsh Goenka, a prominent businessman with a strong social media presence, recently shared an intriguing update on X (formerly Twitter), highlighting the lean operations of Telegram. He pointed out that the messaging platform, led by its founder Pavel Durov, operates with about 1 billion users, boasts a $30 billion market cap, has no advertisements, and is run by just 30 employees—with no HR department. Durov himself manages talent recruitment through competitions.
The post comes amid the news that Pavel Durov was arrested on August 24 at Le Bourget airport near Paris. The arrest is reportedly connected to an investigation by French authorities over claims that Telegram has been used for criminal activities due to insufficient content moderation and limited cooperation with law enforcement agencies. A Reuters source linked the arrest to these concerns.
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Telegram responded strongly, calling the accusations “absurd” and denying responsibility for any misuse of the platform. French President Emmanuel Macron also addressed the matter on X, stating that Durov’s arrest was not politically motivated. Macron reaffirmed France’s stance on freedom of expression, emphasizing that such freedoms must operate within legal frameworks aimed at protecting citizens.
Pavel Durov, aged 39, is known for founding Telegram after co-founding the Russian social media platform VKontakte (VK). He left Russia after refusing government demands to hand over user data. Durov has built Telegram around the principle of user privacy, growing it into a major platform with features like large group capabilities and multi-device syncing, gaining him billionaire status.
Currently, Durov is only detained, and it remains unclear whether he will face charges. His case, if prosecuted, could have significant implications for tech platforms and their owners, potentially leading other nations to follow France’s lead in scrutinizing tech giants and their operations.
