Telegram user's account has been authenticated
Telegram Verifies Founder's Account, Introduces New Verification System
In a significant move, Telegram, the popular messaging app, has verified the account of its founder, Pavel Durov. This development marks the first time that the platform has officially verified a personal account.
According to a report by the specialised portal "Code of Durov," as cited by Izvestia, Durov's account verification is different from the verification of channels or bots on Telegram. The blue checkmark next to his name is an official verification by Telegram representatives.
On August 4, the verification badge was displayed next to Durov's name on Telegram, and his account description now reads: "This account is verified by Telegram representatives."
Durov has stated that the new system of verifying phone numbers is significantly cheaper and safer than traditional SMS confirmations. However, details about whether this service will be paid or available to all users remain unclear. The company has not specified whether this feature will be rolled out to the masses.
Until now, Telegram had only made verified badges available to organizations such as channels and bots associated with verified social media or Wikipedia presence. Regular users' personal verification remains unavailable on Telegram.
The introduction of personal verification may indicate Telegram's plans to further develop its user verification system. It's worth noting that messengers have been identified as leaders in cybercrimes by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. This new verification system could potentially help combat these issues by providing a more secure method for account verification.
Despite the introduction of this new feature, as of August 2022, Telegram had not expanded its account verification system to personal accounts for free. The platform still limits verification to official organizations and public channels.
Telegram requires phone number registration for any account, but this serves as an internal authentication factor rather than public identity verification. Features introduced around and after late 2022 focused on improving login security (like two-step verification, email login options) but did not extend to publicly verifying users personally for free.
In 2024, Telegram updated its account verification system by introducing Telegram Gateway, but this update did not include the verification of personal accounts.
This verification of Pavel Durov's account is significant as he is the founder of Telegram. However, it remains to be seen whether this is a one-time event or the start of a broader initiative to verify personal accounts on the platform.
- Pavel Durov's verified personal account on Telegram could potentially open doors for the integration of technology such as social-media-style verification, enhancing entertainment and communication on the platform.
- The introduction of personal account verification on Telegram could pave the way for future growth in entertainment, as it may encourage more authentic interactions and reduce instances of cybercrime, making the platform a safer and more enjoyable experience for users.
