Latest news with #PavelDurov
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov on French probe against Elon Musk's Twitter: ‘At this point, any tech company…'
French authorities are investigating Elon Musk owned X (formerly Twitter) for alleged algorithm manipulation. The social media platform denied the allegations, calling it 'a politically-motivated criminal investigation'. Responding to the news, Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has now shared an X post where he said that 'at this point, any tech company can be declared a 'criminal gang' in France". Durov further stated that such investigations can be harmful for attracting investments. 'A decade of efforts to attract tech investment is being undone by a few bureaucrats advancing their careers and political agendas — at the expense of the French people,' he wrote in the post. Why French lawmakers are probing Twitter Earlier this month, French prosecutors opened a preliminary probe into the social media platform, accusing it of data tampering. Based on suspected algorithmic bias and fraudulent data extraction, the probe authorizes police to conduct searches, wiretaps and surveillance against Elon Musk and Twitter executives, or summon them to testify. If they do not comply, a judge could issue an arrest warrant, a Reuters report said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Translation of all Languages Translation of all Languages | Search Ads Search Now Undo Twitter responds to French probe Responding to the probe, X Global Government Affairs account wrote on X: 'French authorities have launched a politically-motivated criminal investigation into X over the alleged manipulation of its algorithm and alleged 'fraudulent data extraction.' X categorically denies these allegations.' The post further continued 'This investigation, instigated by French politician Eric Bothorel, egregiously undermines X's fundamental right to due process and threatens our users' rights to privacy and free speech. Mr Bothorel has accused X of manipulating its algorithm for 'foreign interference' purposes, an allegation which is completely false.' 'X is committed to defending its fundamental rights, protecting user data and resisting political censorship,' the post concluded. Google Pixel 10 Series Launch: Everything Coming on August 20 AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
The Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Telegram founder warns France may label tech firms as criminal gangs
MOSCOW: Telegram founder Pavel Durov has raised concerns that French authorities could arbitrarily classify any technology company as a 'criminal gang' due to political motivations. His remarks followed accusations by Elon Musk's X platform, which claimed it was facing a politically driven criminal probe in France. X stated that the investigation jeopardizes user freedom of expression. Durov responded on the platform, saying, 'At this point, any tech company can be declared a 'criminal gang' in France.' He criticized the situation, adding, 'A decade of efforts to attract tech investment is being undone by a few bureaucrats advancing their careers and political agendas — at the expense of the French people.' The controversy stems from a recent investigation launched by the Paris prosecutor's office into X's alleged algorithm manipulation. The case has sparked debates over regulatory overreach and its impact on tech innovation in France. - Bernama-Sputnik/RIA Novosti
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Popular crypto site Pump.fun raised $600 million in 12 minutes—a sign a notorious era is back
Eye-watering crypto raises are back. On Saturday, a popular website that lets anyone launch and buy memecoins, raised $600 million in 12 minutes through a public sale of its cryptocurrency. And it drummed up $720 million through private sales of the company's tokens, according to a spokesperson. In total, is sitting on a stash of about $1.3 billion. That's big money, and arguably the largest crypto fundraise of 2025. But how raised money was also extraordinary. Any small-time trader—though not those in the U.S., U.K, and countries like Iran—could get in on the action through the public sale after verifying their identity. That's a far cry from the last five years of crypto, when a harsher regulatory climate restricted the first-time sale of tokens almost exclusively to wealthy investors. token offering is a novel development in the current crypto environment. But it was also a throwback to a more free-wheeling era nearly ten years ago when everyone and their mother (quite literally) were launching their own cryptocurrencies to the public to raise millions. Those offerings, known as initial coin offerings or ICOs, gave rise to some of the most famous projects in crypto—but also a torrent of fly-by-night offerings and outright scams. Does the sale mean ICOs are back? IPOs, ICOs, and securities For traditional startups, there's a well-trodden path to the public markets. Raise money from private investors, grow your business, and, if you're lucky, file for an IPO, or initial public offering. This is usually a yearslong process, involves high-priced investment bankers, and requires scrutiny from financial regulators. Initial coin offerings, by contrast, offer a shortcut that involves minting millions of tokens and then distributing them to those who contribute capital to the effort. That's what crypto companies—both legitimate and illegitimate—did in the 2010s. In 2014, the founders of the blockchain Ethereum raised over $18 million after they let the public buy up its cryptocurrency, which has since become the second most valuable token, only below Bitcoin. Soon, others were raking in millions, even billions, for blockchain companies through token launches. Those included boondoggles like Shopin, a blockchain shopping scheme that somehow raised over $42 million in an ICO, and whose tokens are today worth basically nothing. Unsurprisingly, the Securities and Exchange Commission began cracking down, alleging that many tokens were akin to securities, or financial assets like stocks or bonds that must adhere to decades-old disclosure and registration requirements. The agency soon forced companies to return billions raised through ICOs. In addition to Shopin, it targeted the popular messaging app Telegram. After Telegram founder Pavel Durov drummed up $1.7 billion in an offering in 2018, the SEC sued Durov's company to force it to return the cash to investors. As financial regulators cracked down, companies looked for other ways to legally launch cryptocurrencies, which they claimed were more akin to commodities, or financial assets like gold or oil. They engaged in free 'airdrops' to loyal users or sold them to wealthy investors who agreed to lengthy lock-up periods before reselling them. But, now, the legal winds have shifted again. Under former President Joe Biden, the SEC regulated crypto with a heavy hand, suing even the most prominent companies like Coinbase and Binance for alleged securities violations. Under President Donald Trump, the federal government has pulled back. 'The fear of getting smacked down by law enforcement or the regulators, at least right now, isn't there in the market,' Scott Armstrong, a white-collar defense attorney at McGovern Weems and former Justice Department prosecutor, told Fortune. Déjà vu Over the past year, crypto outfits have launched portals where qualified investors, not just well-known VCs, can access early funding rounds for startups. And Cobie, a longtime, pseudonymous crypto investor, is even developing what he's dubbed an ICO platform. In July, the crypto startup Plasma said it planned to raise $50 million through Cobie's project. Add in mammoth raise, and it seems like it's déjà vu all over again. 'We absolutely believe this sets the stage for a new era of ICOs,' Alon Cohen, cofounder of said in a statement. While Cohen said he believes ICOs are one of the best ways to decentralize a crypto project, others are more cautious. 'There's the real prospect that history repeats itself, and there will be similar fraudulent and problematic offerings this time around,' Armstrong told Fortune. Scams were rampant in the ICO era. Founders would release a jargon-filled academic paper, promise revolutionary technology, raise millions, and never deliver. But crypto industry adherents say this time is different. is a real project and has generated nearly $800 million in revenue since early 2024, according to Blockworks. Plus, public and private investors in the token launch were given the same financial terms, a company spokesperson told Fortune. 'It is a much fairer situation now as compared to that moment in time,' said Omar-Shakeeb Zahir, cofounder of SecondLane, a newer investment bank that caters towards crypto and private markets. Austin Federa, cofounder of the crypto startup DoubleZero, echoed Zahir. 'I don't see today a bunch of projects that are vaporware or have no revenue or have no sort of substance behind them raising crazy numbers,' he told Fortune. In fact, Federa and his startup have creeped back into the U.S. In April, he and his team conducted a limited token offering to select buyers beyond just venture capitalists. He is cautiously optimistic that the return to more public cryptocurrency offerings is a boon for the industry. Still, he was careful not to be too bullish. 'A universal truth of crypto,' he said, 'is that everything good can turn bad, given enough forces.' This story was originally featured on
India.com
6 days ago
- Politics
- India.com
Nepal Bans Telegram App Over Financial Frauds, Lack Of Cooperation
New Delhi: The Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) on Friday ordered all telecom service providers in the country to block access to the Telegram messaging app. This decision came after months of repeated warnings and requests from the Cyber Bureau of Nepal Police, which flagged the app as a tool for financial fraud and money laundering. In a statement, the NTA confirmed the directive, stating that the decision was taken in response to serious concerns raised by security agencies. 'As online frauds through Telegram continue to rise in Nepal, and the app is reportedly involved in crimes such as money laundering, all telecom service providers are directed to immediately block Telegram,' NTA stated. The authority stated that fraud schemes through Telegram have recently surged. These include fake job offers, crypto scams, and other deceptive tactics. The Prime Minister's Office, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and other key officials held meetings to discuss the issue. After being briefed on several cases of money laundering linked to Telegram, the Prime Minister's Office sent an official letter to the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, asking for immediate action. Another major reason behind the ban was Telegram's refusal to cooperate with law enforcement agencies. The Ministry tried to contact Telegram's official representative but couldn't find a local focal point. On Friday, it wrote to the NTA requesting the block. Soon after, the authority instructed all telecom and internet providers to cut off access to the app. Telegram has long been criticised for being unsafe and for not sharing user data with authorities. Countries like China have already banned the app due to similar concerns. The controversy surrounding Telegram grew further after its co-founder, Pavel Durov, was arrested in France in August 2024. Durov, who also co-founded the Russian social network VK, was arrested at Le Bourget Airport and later indicted on multiple charges, including complicity in the distribution of child exploitation material and drug trafficking. He was barred from leaving France and placed under judicial supervision. Durov's arrest led to major protests by free-speech activists and Telegram users. In March 2025, a judge allowed Durov to temporarily leave France, and he left the country within the same month.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Math, physics or prompt engineering? What Indian students are really choosing
It began not with a clash, but with a quiet ripple. On an otherwise uneventful July evening, Telegram's famously elusive founder Pavel Durov took to X and issued a piece of advice to students that was equal parts old-school and visionary: 'If you're a student choosing what to focus on, pick MATH. It will teach you to relentlessly rely on your own brain... That's the core skill you'll need to build companies and manage projects. ' A few hours later, Elon Musk added his voice — not to debate, but to refine: 'Physics (with math).' It was not a duel, but a duet — an exchange between two of the world's most high-functioning minds, gently reminding a generation swimming in AI-generated content that real intelligence still has prerequisites. Namely: numbers, patterns, and logic. And yet, while this Twitter symposium played out, Indian students had already made up their minds. They weren't picking math. Nor physics. Their new obsession? Prompt Engineering. GenAI nation: India's AI learning boom According to the Coursera Global Skills Report 2025, India now leads the world in GenAI course enrollments, clocking in over 1.3 million learners in 2024 alone. That's more than the entire number of learners in Europe. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like What Homeowners Should Know About Air Conditioners in 2025 asklayers Learn More Undo But here's the catch: India's global rank in skill proficiency is a sobering 89. In AI-specific skills, we stand at 46. Our performance in data (88) and tech (86) isn't winning any medals either. We're sprinting into the AI era — with shoelaces untied. Math replaced by 'hacks' The paradox couldn't be starker. While Durov extols math for its discipline, and Musk praises physics for its depth, the Indian learner appears focussed on something else entirely: Speed. Speed to certification. Speed to skill-badges. Speed to job-readiness. And so, Prompt Engineering for ChatGPT becomes India's top trending course (the Corsera Report reveals) — a skill that involves coaxing the right answers out of a language model without necessarily knowing the math or logic that powers it. It's not a dismissal of STEM. It's an attempt to bypass the staircase and take the elevator — in a building where the foundation is still under construction. The shortcut economy There's no denying that AI is changing everything. The Coursera Job Skills Report 2025 reveals the fastest-growing workplace skills: • Prompt Engineering • AI Ethics • Cybersecurity Risk Management • Python for Data Analysis • Cloud Infrastructure It's a thrilling list — and also a terrifying one, if you read between the lines. All of these skills depend on foundational literacy in logic, computation, and critical thinking. And yet, the Coursera report also shows India struggling with all three. Indian learners are picking tools, but not the thinking behind them. This is not just a skills gap — it's a learning sequence mismatch. Big brands, small depth India's top learner skills in 2025, as per Coursera, include: • DevOps Tools • Web Development • Application Lifecycle Management • Containerisation All are useful. None require a rigorous understanding of math or physics. Meanwhile, AI engineering and advanced data science — the real engines behind today's most transformative technologies — remain out of reach for most learners without a strong STEM base. It's like training to be a pilot by memorising the in-flight safety demo. The real test This moment — with a billion Indians chasing GenAI and two tech titans gently pointing us back to first principles — is a test. Not of intelligence, but of patience. Not of aptitude, but of appetite — for deep learning, not just fast learning. Because in 2025, math is still hard. Physics is still complicated. And real AI is still built by people who understand both. Indian students may be earning certificates at breakneck speed. But the real question is: Are we building creators, or just credentialed consumers? Until we answer that, Durov's quiet math lesson — and Musk's elegantly worded nudge — may remain unread footnotes in India's rush to download the future. TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here. Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
