Telegram, the global messaging app popular for its privacy and lack of moderation, is poised for its first profitable year with an estimated $1 billion in revenue, despite the arrest of founder Pavel Durov, the New York Times reported Monday.
Preferred in the Middle East, Asia and Eastern Europe for its strong encryption and virtually nonexistent censors, Telegram has told investors that it has begun policing content after Durov was arrested in France this summer. The founder and CEO was detained in an investigation into Telegram’s alleged facilitation of illegal activities due to insufficient moderation.
Citing a person with knowledge of the app’s finances, Telegram is set for a profitable 2024 with revenue on track to surpass $1 billion, up from nearly $350 million last year.