Pavel Durov, the mastermind behind the highly secure messaging app Telegram Messenger, has made a bold prediction about the future of communication devices. In an interview with Tucker Carlson on April 17, Durov highlighted the continuous efforts by government entities to suppress private information exchange. However, he believes that this growing surveillance will lead to the development of hardware devices dedicated to secure communications, much like the hardware wallets used to store cryptocurrency.
Durov recounted how the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the United States had attempted to convince Telegram affiliates to install backdoors for surveillance purposes. This revelation underscores the need for secure communication platforms, especially in light of increasing government interference.
Durov also praised the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for its geopolitical neutrality, which makes it an ideal location for entrepreneurs who value privacy and oppose surveillance.
When discussing the ownership of his company, Durov emphasized his aversion to venture capital investments, as he aims to maintain full control over Telegram’s operations. He disclosed that he possesses a substantial amount of fiat and Bitcoin (BTC), totaling “a few hundred million dollars,” which allows him to independently fund his projects and maintain 100% ownership.
While Durov prefers to bootstrap his ventures, he did admit to raising funds for certain projects in the past, including a cryptocurrency initiative.
Edward Snowden, a renowned whistleblower, echoed Durov’s concerns about increasing government surveillance. On April 16, Snowden warned that the United States National Security Agency (NSA) is on the verge of “taking over the internet” by expanding its surveillance powers. This alert follows Elizabeth Goitein’s observation that a seemingly innocent change to the definition of “electronic communications surveillance provider” in the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) 702 bill could grant the U.S. government the authority to compel almost every internet-related service provider to assist with NSA surveillance.
These developments highlight the urgent need for secure communication platforms and devices, as individuals and companies face the growing threat of government surveillance.