(Sep 29, 2025 03:03 AM)DarkLo Wrote:  has anyone tried creating a telegram account recently? i have tried creating a telegram account using two different countries and after verifying code from email they try and force me to purchase telegram premium, citing that sms costs are elevated and that they now need to charge for 1 week of premium to send me the sms to create the account. this is a bit much. i am not a heavy telegram user and not going to purchase premium just to sign up.

(Sep 29, 2025 03:03 AM)DarkLo Wrote:  has anyone tried creating a telegram account recently? i have tried creating a telegram account using two different countries and after verifying code from email they try and force me to purchase telegram premium, citing that sms costs are elevated and that they now need to charge for 1 week of premium to send me the sms to create the account. this is a bit much. i am not a heavy telegram user and not going to purchase premium just to sign up.

(Sep 29, 2025 10:41 AM)Chorozon Wrote:  Maybe its where you got the number ?

(Sep 29, 2025 08:55 AM)cad-syak Wrote:  I noticed this recently, lol do we call this a marketing strategy?

(Sep 29, 2025 11:30 AM)I ɴ ᴄ ʀ ᴇ ᴅ ɪ ʙ ʟ E Wrote:  Peer-to-Peer Login (P2PL) Program


This is a program being tested in some regions (particularly for Android users) where you can opt in to allow Telegram to use your phone number to send OTP/SMS codes (for other users) in return for a free Premium subscription. But participation is voluntary, not required.



by ChatGPT

(Oct 11, 2025 11:59 PM)DarkLo Wrote:  i thought maybe the location was the problem and tried with a different location and recieved the same message saying something along the lines of that the cost for sending sms codes is high and they require purchase of telegram premium to register without any other options then to sign up for premium or exit

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i think that is the best way to desribe it

(Sep 30, 2025 03:11 AM)Astaroth Wrote:  I don't think Telegram is safe anymore. Had it been 100% Russian, then yes. Now when the US is involved they will hand all data over to the FBI for manipulation, so no Telegram for me anymore.

I don't consider Pavel Durov to be human.

(Oct 13, 2025 03:17 AM)Charlie Sheen Wrote:  Lmao.

AI Quote: Russia’s laws give the government sweeping surveillance powers

The “Yarovaya Law” and related statutes require internet companies to store user data and give the FSB (Russia’s security service) access to it upon request.

Domestic companies can be forced to install interception equipment (SORM) or hand over encryption keys — even secretly.

Courts rarely challenge government requests, and “national security” can be used to justify almost anything.

If Telegram were developed in Russia, it would fall under these rules — meaning the government could compel the company to provide user data or encryption backdoors.

🧭 2. Telegram deliberately operates outside of Russian jurisdiction

Telegram was founded by Pavel Durov, who left Russia after refusing to hand over VKontakte (Russia’s version of Facebook) user data to the FSB.

Telegram’s legal headquarters is in Dubai, and its infrastructure is distributed globally, so Russia can’t easily compel compliance.

This independence is part of what allows Telegram to offer private chats with end-to-end encryption and resist government control.

🔐 3. “Safe” means both technically and legally protected

Even if the same engineers built Telegram in Russia, its legal environment would instantly undermine any technical security features.

Encryption wouldn’t matter if the FSB could legally demand your keys.

Servers could be seized or monitored.

Users could be identified via SIM-based registration requirements.