Dley

[Pavel Durov @durov]

🚨 Two years ago, I was detained in Paris by police for 3 days — the longest they can hold someone before charging them.

In an unprecedented move, French authorities accused the head of a major platform of crimes committed by its users.

That investigation is still ongoing, although it makes less sense with each passing year.

Why?

Because we now have extensive evidence that Telegram was neither worse than other popular platforms at moderation, nor the worst at cooperating with authorities.

So why was Telegram singled out?

Over the last two years, we have seen a pattern emerge in multiple countries: Telegram is quietly asked to grant political favors — such as illegal censorship or surveillance. When we refuse, local media and “non-governmental” organizations launch orchestrated campaigns portraying Telegram as a cesspool of crime, from child pornography to terrorism.

Our moderation is no worse than that of other major platforms. Yet these campaigns instill the idea that Telegram should be persecuted or restricted.

Suddenly, officials start caring about crime and protecting children — but only on platforms that reject their secret political demands. Platforms that accept such deals get away with almost anything — including literally selling ads promoting child pornography.

Is the French investigation against me political? It certainly fits the pattern we see elsewhere, mostly in authoritarian countries. And it definitely raises questions.

In time, this investigation may itself be investigated — especially now that Macron’s war against free speech is facing pushback. This month, France’s Constitutional Council struck down his social media ban for children under 15 on freedom-of-expression grounds.

In the end, freedom and truth will prevail ✊

[Pavel Durov @durov]

Last night Apple briefly removed Telegram from the AppStore because a user had planted illegal porn in a public chat.

Telegram was restored within hours. But I want to explain what happened — to warn other app developers and help protect online communities from similar attacks.

Because Telegram quickly removes illegal content from public groups using all kinds of moderation tools, the attacker had to resort to a technical trick. He inserted AI-modified illegal content by editing an old message in an active group chat. As a result the content was effectively hidden from the group’s members, preventing them from seeing/reporting it.

The attacker was a takedown extortionist: someone who demands ransom from group owners in exchange for not targeting their communities. These extortionists use automated accounts to plant illegal content in public groups and then report it directly to Apple, attempting to trigger the removal of legitimate communities whose owners refused to pay them.

From a practical standpoint, illegal pornographic content in Telegram’s public groups is not a systemic problem. Our moderation is effective. The fact that attackers must resort to backdated, effectively invisible content and other technical tricks proves this.

⚠️ However, there are two important lessons here for app developers and online communities:

— Extortionists have found a way to manipulate Apple into overreacting. Apple removed Telegram from the App Store before contacting us. This creates a potential systemic risk for every mobile app that hosts user-generated content. If an app used by more than a billion people can be removed from the App Store without prior warning, any app can be.

— The tactics used by takedown extortionists are evolving, putting communities across social platforms at risk. Telegram has extensive experience identifying the tricks used by coordinated reporting gangs and protecting legitimate communities (even when doing so risks our own app being temporarily removed from the App Store). Other platforms may not be equally prepared.

Stay vigilant! ☝️

[RUTH 🇨🇦 @it_Rutie]

Cristiano Ronaldo’s drone farewell over Portugal. 🥹

[Zach Schumaker @ZachSchumaker]

Round 3 of Boots Ennis vs. Xander Zayas is one of the greatest rounds of boxing you will ever watch.

An absolute war from bell to bell. Pure cinema. #ZayasEnnis

[Vala Afshar @ValaAfshar]

Nvidia CEO speaks about the one skill that will matter most

[Nayib Bukele @nayibbukele]

Cuadra por cuadra... tardará un poco, pero quedará hermoso.

[Corporate Dudes @corporatedudes]

Me pretending to work during the void of December 23rd to January 5th

[Dley @8Dley0]

Finally #seeker #skr

[Dley @8Dley0]

Do it for the $VINE

[Library Path @LibraryPath]

15 Deep Lines about Life:

1.

[Football Tweet ⚽ @Footballtweet]

Nah this Real Madrid goal is an absolute JOKE! 🤯🤯🤯

[Ledger @Ledger]

The future is secured. 🔒

[Hoops @Hoopss]

SGA was on another planet on Good Morning America 😭

[NBA @NBA]

🚨🚨 WE'RE GOING TO GAME 7 🚨🚨

The Pacers and Thunder will battle for the NBA CHAMPIONSHIP in a WINNER-TAKE-ALL GAME 7 on Sunday, June 22 at 8pm/et on ABC!

#NBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV 🏆

[Elon Musk @elonmusk]

No gods or kings, only men

[Top Rank Boxing @trboxing]

Continues to be the man to watch.

Abdullah Mason is coming for it all 🍿

[Top Rank Boxing @trboxing]

MAIN EVENT MASON.

💨 @AbdullahMason_ brings the smoke to @ESPN tonight 10PM ET.

@TwistedTea | #MasonNakathila

[On The Radar Radio With Gabe P @OnTheRadarRadio]

The @wizkhalifa "Mezmorized" | On The Radar Classics

https://t.co/LDaBNnC9r5

[Coach Rome @Rome_Beast]

aye man SGA dad cool asl 🤣