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Comment by unicornporn | Hacker News Reader

They're sitting on troves of data. Extremely few use the E2E encrypted "secure chat" feature (mainly because it isn't default, but also because it doesn't sync between devices) and all the chat logs and data are stored on their servers (and are readable by Telegram). They also store your address book on their servers.

I'm sure they will find ways monetize this. Data is the "new gold", as they say[1]...

[1] https://www.google.com/#q="data+is+the+new+gold"

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Their FAQ[1] states:

Q: Will you have ads? Or sell my data? Or steal my beloved and enslave my children? No.

So I don't think they will make money by selling data.

[1] https://telegram.org/faq#q-will-you-have-ads-or-sell-my-data...

An FAQ isn't binding. What does their TOS say?

Why isn't the FAQ binding, do they disclaim it elsewhere?

Are you really serious? This is a post snowden society.

> An FAQ isn't binding.

Probably not, but please beware that this service is not subject to US law, but the laws of the Russian Federation.

> What does their TOS say?

TOS are subject to change, right? And even if it wasn't, do you really think the TOS will stop a company run by a russian nationalist[1] offering a free service with a million dollar bill will stick by their word (which, in this case is literally a single word)?

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/-MrPWGr7aL/

> service is not subject to US law, but the laws of the Russian Federation

They are not registered in Russia, afaik.

> russian nationalist[1] … [1] https://www.instagram.com/p/-MrPWGr7aL/

That's just Pavel's usual populism. He says the same things about Russia or pretty much anything.

>They are not registered in Russia, afaik.

They are writing the software in Russia (right next to the VK's door to be precise), though. Source: local Saint-Petersburg newspapers.

I remember them mention about making a good messaging app without calling fluff (can't exactly point to which blog/faq)

And what in the world makes you think that a company run by a russian nationalist[1] offering a free service with a million dollar bill will stick by their word (which, in this case is literally a single word)? The naivety of people in this post Snowden world is striking to me.

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/-MrPWGr7aL/

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