Telegram founder Pavlo Durov gave an almost hour-long interview to journalist Tucker Carlson. Main theses:
1. "We are paid too much attention by the FBI, the security services, wherever we are in the USA," said Durov, talking about surveillance by American special services.
He said that during one of his visits to the United States, an engineer who operates a messenger traveled with him. According to Durov, they tried to recruit him.
"Whenever I go to the USA, FBI agents meet me at the airport and ask me questions. One day I was having breakfast at 9:00 and the FBI showed up outside the house I was filming. They knew that I had left Russia. They knew what we were doing, but they needed details. I think they wanted to establish connections in order to somehow better control Telegram," said Durov.
Because of this, as well as after the attack on him in San Francisco by robbers, Durov refused to do business in the USA. In other countries - Germany, Britain and Singapore - he was scared off by bureaucracy. Therefore, now the "Voz" office is in Dubai.
2. At the same time, the main pressure on Telegram is not exerted by governments, but by Apple and Google.
"These two platforms can essentially censor everything you can read on your smartphone," said Durov, who has consistently criticized these companies, as well as Facebook, for their "transparency" to intelligence agencies.
In this context, he stated that iPhone and Android phones are "dangerous".
At the same time, he welcomed Elon Musk's purchase of Twitter. According to Durov, this will have a positive effect on the social network industry.
3. Durov called the claim that Telegram is under the control of the Russian authorities a ploy by competitors.
He stated that Telegram is a neutral platform that everyone can use.
Durov said that after the storming of the Capitol, Telegram received appeals from Democrats and Republicans. The first demanded to provide data on those who managed the protests through Telegram. Others warned against this step. Both letters were ignored, Durov said.
