Pavel Durov: Telegram, Freedom, Censorship, Money, Power & Human Nature | Lex Fridman Podcast #482
Pavel Durov explains his arrest in France, refusal to give governments backdoor access, and why he’d rather die in prison than compromise Telegram.
- Durov was arrested in France in August 2024, accused of ~15 serious crimes based on actions of Telegram users — unprecedented in tech history.
- He flatly refused any government backdoor to private messages; said his response to France’s intelligence agencies would be impolite.
- Telegram has over 1 billion active users and removes millions of pieces of harmful content weekly via automated systems.
- Durov bought thousands of Bitcoin at ~$700 in 2013, has funded his lifestyle from it, and predicts BTC will reach $1 million.
- He claims to have 100+ biological children from sperm donation ~15 years ago and updated his will to treat all equally.
- Does 300 push-ups and 300 squats daily, gyms 5-6 days/week; views physical discipline as the foundational skill for everything else.
- Romania approached him while he was detained in France, pressuring him to block election-related channels — he refused and publicized the attempt.
- Believes Russia may ban Telegram; warns European censorship of speech legitimizes authoritarian bans in China and Iran.
Guests: Pavel Durov, founder and CEO of Telegram · 2025-09-30 · Watch on YouTube
