❤️ Thanks everyone for your support and love!

Last month I got interviewed by police for 4 days after arriving in Paris. I was told I may be personally responsible for other people’s illegal use of Telegram, because the French authorities didn’t receive responses from Telegram.

This was surprising for several reasons: 

1. Telegram has an official representative in the EU that accepts and replies to EU requests. Its email address has been publicly available for anyone in the EU who googles “Telegram EU address for law enforcement”. 
2. The French authorities had numerous ways to reach me to request assistance. As a French citizen, I was a frequent guest at the French consulate in Dubai. A while ago, when asked, I personally helped them establish a hotline with Telegram to deal with the threat of terrorism in France.
3. If a country is unhappy with an internet service, the established practice is to start a legal action against the service itself. Using laws from the pre-smartphone era to charge a CEO with crimes committed by third parties on the platform he manages is a misguided approach. Building technology is hard enough as it is. No innovator will ever build new tools if they know they can be personally held responsible for potential abuse of those tools. 

Establishing the right balance between privacy and security is not easy. You have to reconcile privacy laws with law enforcement requirements, and local laws with EU laws. You have to take into account technological limitations. As a platform, you want your processes to be consistent globally, while also ensuring they are not abused in countries with weak rule of law. We’ve been committed to engaging with regulators to find the right balance. Yes, we stand by our principles: our experience is shaped by our mission to protect our users in authoritarian regimes. But we’ve always been open to dialogue.

Sometimes we can’t agree with a country’s regulator on the right balance between privacy and security. In those cases, we are ready to leave that country. We’ve done it many times. When Russia demanded we hand over “encryption keys” to enable surveillance, we refused — and Telegram got banned in Russia. When Iran demanded we block channels of peaceful protesters, we refused — and Telegram got banned in Iran. We are prepared to leave markets that aren’t compatible with our principles, because we are not doing this for money. We are driven by the intention to bring good and defend the basic rights of people, particularly in places where these rights are violated.

All of that does not mean Telegram is perfect. Even the fact that authorities could be confused by where to send requests is something that we should improve. But the claims in some media that Telegram is some sort of anarchic paradise are absolutely untrue. We take down millions of harmful posts and channels every day. We publish daily transparency reports (like this or this ). We have direct hotlines with NGOs to process urgent moderation requests faster.

However, we hear voices saying that it’s not enough. Telegram’s abrupt increase in user count to 950M caused growing pains that made it easier for criminals to abuse our platform. That’s why I made it my personal goal to ensure we significantly improve things in this regard. We’ve already started that process internally, and I will share more details on our progress with you very soon. 

I hope that the events of August will result in making Telegram — and the social networking industry as a whole — safer and stronger. Thanks again for your love and memes 🙏. Credit source Pavel Durov via Telegram.

CrowdStrike is a cybersecurity company, kind of like a digital knight in shining armor for businesses. They protect companies from cyberattacks and online threats.

Today, there’s a buzz around CrowdStrike because they’re dealing with a bit of a hiccup. One of their updates for Windows computers malfunctioned, causing some systems to act wonky. It’s important to note, however, that this wasn’t a cyberattack, more of a friendly fire situation. CrowdStrike is assuring everyone they’ve identified the problem, fixed it, and are patching things up as we speak.

Here’s a story for you:

It was a tense morning at DigiCorp, a tech startup. Alarms blared on laptops, throwing up error messages. Sarah, the head of IT, was fielding frantic calls from colleagues. Their data, their entire business, seemed to be on the fritz.

“Is it a ransomware attack?” someone shouted.

Sarah took a deep breath. “Let’s not panic. It could be anything. First, let’s isolate the problem and see if CrowdStrike can shed some light.”

Moments later, Sarah sighed with relief. CrowdStrike confirmed it wasn’t a malicious attack, but a glitch with their own update. A wave of laughter rippled through the stressed-out team.

“Well, that’s a relief,” Matt, a programmer, chuckled. “Though, maybe CrowdStrike needs to polish their knightly armor a bit.”

By lunchtime, CrowdStrike had rolled out a fix, and DigiCorp was back in business. Sarah sent a quick thank you note to their cybersecurity partners. Though it was a scare, it was a good reminder of how important CrowdStrike was in keeping their digital world safe.

In the ever-expanding world of online content creation, YouTube monetization stands out as a way for creators to turn their passion into profit. However, a common question among aspiring YouTubers is whether their geographical location impacts their ability to monetize their content. Let’s dive deep into the intricacies of YouTube monetization and explore how your country of residence might affect your earning potential.

Understanding YouTube Monetization Basics

Before we address the country-specific aspects, it’s crucial to understand the fundamentals of YouTube monetization. The YouTube Partner Program (YPP) is the primary way creators can earn money directly from their videos. To join the YPP, creators must meet certain criteria:

1. Have at least 1,000 subscribers
2. Accumulate 4,000 watch hours in the past 12 months
3. Comply with YouTube’s community guidelines and advertiser-friendly content policies
4. Have an AdSense account linked to their channel

Once these requirements are met, creators can apply for the YPP and start earning revenue through various means such as ad revenue, channel memberships, and Super Chat.

The Global Reach of YouTube Monetization

YouTube is available in over 100 countries, with its monetization features accessible in many of these regions. However, the availability of specific monetization features can vary depending on your location. Here’s how your country can influence your YouTube monetization journey:

1. Eligibility for the YouTube Partner Program

While the basic requirements for joining the YPP are the same globally, some countries may have additional restrictions or requirements. It’s essential to check YouTube’s up-to-date policies for your specific region to ensure eligibility.

2. Available Monetization Features

Not all YouTube monetization features are available in every country. For example, channel memberships and Super Chat may be limited to certain regions. Always verify which features are accessible in your location to maximize your earning potential.

3. Ad Rates and CPM

CPM (Cost Per Mille) rates, which determine how much you earn per thousand views, can vary significantly between countries. Generally, advertisers pay more for views from countries with higher purchasing power, such as the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada. This means that creators in these countries may potentially earn more per view compared to those in developing nations.

4. Payment Thresholds and Methods

The minimum payment threshold and available payout methods can differ based on your country. While most regions have a $100 threshold before payments are issued, some countries may have higher or lower limits. Additionally, the options for receiving payments (e.g., wire transfer, Western Union, or checks) may vary.

5. Tax Implications

Your country of residence will determine the tax regulations applicable to your YouTube earnings. Some countries have tax treaties with the United States (where YouTube is based), which can affect withholding rates on your revenue.

Strategies to Overcome Geographical Limitations in YouTube Monetization

While your country can indeed impact your YouTube monetization potential, there are strategies to maximize your earnings regardless of location:

1. Create Content with Global Appeal
2. Optimize for English-Speaking Audiences
3. Focus on Niche Topics
4. Diversify Your Income Streams
5. Collaborate with International Creators
6. Stay Informed About Policy Changes

YouTube Monetization Success: Beyond Geographical Boundaries

In conclusion, while your country does play a role in YouTube monetization, it’s not the sole determining factor for success. The platform offers global opportunities for creators to earn revenue, albeit with some variations in features and potential earnings based on location.

By understanding these geographical nuances and implementing strategies to overcome potential limitations, creators from any country can build successful, monetized YouTube channels. Remember, the key to YouTube success lies in creating high-quality, engaging content that resonates with your target audience, regardless of where you or they are located.

Ultimately, your creativity, consistency, and ability to connect with viewers are the most crucial factors in your YouTube monetization journey. So, wherever you are in the world, focus on honing your craft, growing your audience, and adapting to the ever-changing landscape of online content creation.