Telegram founder Pavel Durov announced a series of new features aimed at combating illegal content, bots, and scammers on the messaging platform, following his recent arrest in France. Durov had been charged with failing to curb illegal activity on Telegram but criticized the arrest as “misguided” and “surprising.”
In a statement on Friday, Durov acknowledged that while a tiny fraction (0.001%) of Telegram’s 950 million users are involved in illegal activities, these individuals create a negative image for the platform. He emphasized Telegram’s commitment to improving its moderation efforts, aiming to shift criticism into praise.
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To address these issues, Telegram has:
- Removed the “people nearby” feature, which had been exploited by bots and scammers.
- Introduced a new “businesses nearby” feature to highlight legitimate, verified businesses.
- Disabled new media uploads to Telegraph, the platform’s standalone blogging tool, which had been misused by anonymous users.
Durov’s legal troubles began when he was arrested on August 24 at Le Bourget airport near Paris. He was later granted bail of €5 million on the condition that he remains in France and reports to the police twice a week. Despite the charges, Durov maintains that he should not be held accountable for crimes committed by others on the platform.
Durov, known for his reclusive lifestyle and advocacy of minimalist living, is a Russian, French, and UAE citizen with a net worth estimated at $15.5 billion. Telegram remains headquartered in the United Arab Emirates.
