Breaking milestones is part of Telegram's business vocabulary as the app surpassed $1 billion revenue in December. Three months later, the messaging platform managed to reach one billion active users, but CEO Pavel Durov is not done yet.
The Russian founder did not mince his words when he called Meta-owned WhatsApp a "cheap" knockoff of Telegram.
Durov Makes Jab at WhatsApp
In his celebratory announcement, Durov didn't shy away from his largest rival. As Business Insider reports, the tech executive called WhatsApp a "cheap, watered-down imitation of Telegram."
The 40-year-old tech executive accused WhatsApp of attempting to replicate Telegram's features for years and using billions of dollars on lobbying and PR to hold back Telegram's expansion.
Regardless of their efforts, Durov stressed that Telegram not only expanded but became profitable as well while maintaining its autonomy.
Read more: Pavel Durov Downplays Major Changes to Telegram's Terms of Service Amid Growing Legal Pressure
Telegram Posts Huge Profit in 2024
It's important to note that it's been a long-held dream of Telegram to be one of the best messaging apps in this current generation. Facebook and X come to mind when we are talking about this kind of app. However, Durov wants the app to improve without compromising its values.
While Durov said that Telegram generated $547 million in profit in 2024, it's still a long way compared to Facebook's profit of $62.3 billion in the same year.
Durov Went to Dubai After Legal Battle
Durov's statement follows his recent return to Dubai after a long court battle in France.
The Telegram boss was arrested at an airport in Paris on August 24, 2024, after he arrived from his private plane. The French authorities said that Durov was accused of allowing Telegram to be a nest of drug trafficking, child abuse, fraud, and other crimes.
Denial of Allegations and Temporary Release
Durov rejected the accusations, describing them as both "surprising" and "misguided."
In a statement published on his Telegram channel in September 2024, he contended that it was unfair to hold him responsible for third-party crimes on the platform.
In the same month, it revealed it would begin disclosing IP addresses and phone numbers of perpetrators to law enforcement when the law needs it.
Telegram's Dedication to Policy Reforms
Since Durov's detention, Telegram has undertaken major policy reforms to cater to concerns of illegal content. The service partnered with the Internet Watch Foundation, an organization dedicated to finding and removing child sexual abuse material.
Telegram also started issuing transparency reports, reporting the amount of content that was taken down, which is common practice in the tech industry.
