Pavel Durov

I still come up with most of the features. I still work directly with every engineer, every designer who is implementing these features. I'm running this company because I enjoy it. I'm the only product manager.~Tucker Carlson show

Pavel Valeryevich Durov (born 10 October 1984) is a Russian-born French-Emirati entrepreneur who is known for being the founder of the social networking site VK and instant messaging app Telegram. He is the younger brother of Nikolai Durov.

Quotes

• Every one of us is going to die eventually, but we as a species will stick around for a while. That’s why I think accumulating money, fame or power is irrelevant. Serving humanity is the only thing that really matters in the long run.
  • "Why WhatsApp Will Never Be Secure" 2019-05-15
  • In reference to his expatriation from Russia after refusing to breach the privacy of VK users for the government

• In my 20 years of managing discussion platforms, I noticed that conspiracy theories only strengthen each time their content is removed by moderators. Instead of putting an end to wrong ideas, censorship often makes it harder to fight them.
  • "t.me/durov/163" 2021-07-21
  • Referring to the suppression of the COVID-19 lab leak theory on social media platforms

• Earlier this week, Hamas used w:Telegram (software) to warn civilians in Ashkelon to leave the area ahead of their missile strikes. Would shutting down their channel help save lives — or would it endanger more lives?”

[Hamas Telegram channels] serve as a unique source of first-hand information for researchers, journalists and w:fact-checkers.

• • Hamas’ social media following has skyrocketed since its attack. America is powerless to stop it (October 17, 2023)

• I’m turning 41, but I don’t feel like celebrating.

Our generation is running out of time to save the free Internet built for us by our fathers.

What was once the promise of the free exchange of information is being turned into the ultimate tool of control.

• • From a post on X, 10 October 2025. Quoted in Pavel Durov lancia l'allarme su Telegram: “Siamo alla fine dell'internet libera”, wired.it, 10 October 2025 (in Italian)