Pavel Durov recently opened up about why he opted to locate Telegram's headquarters in Dubai instead of San Francisco. For Durov, San Francisco posed safety concerns and the risk of excessive scrutiny from U.S. authorities, leading him to search for safer locations for his company. He recounted a troubling experience of being attacked by three individuals in San Francisco after a meeting with Twitter's co-founder, Jack Dorsey, emphasizing the unsettling nature of the incident.
Moreover, Durov highlighted the unwanted attention the company received from the FBI and cybersecurity agencies, which further reinforced his decision to avoid a U.S.-based headquarters. He shared a specific incident where an attempt was made to secretly recruit one of his engineers, underscoring the challenges faced by a privacy-focused social media platform operating in such an environment. Durov's commitment to privacy and independence, fueled by his personal investment in Bitcoin, has allowed Telegram to grow significantly despite operating with a lean team and raising funds through unconventional means like bond sales and cryptocurrency projects.
With almost a billion users and a steady daily increase in user numbers, Telegram's unique approach to ownership and privacy has set it apart in the social media landscape. Durov's candid revelations shed light on the complex considerations that tech entrepreneurs navigate when deciding on the optimal location for their company's headquarters.