Durov announced the addition of group calls to the Telegram messenger

The Telegram messenger now has the ability to create group calls for hundreds of participants. This was announced on May 3 by businessman and founder of the platform Pavel Durov.

"Now you can add up to 200 people to any Telegram call (including 1-1 calls) using links, QR codes, or direct invitations. And if you need to go beyond 200 participants in a call, Telegram voice and video chats in groups are supported by tens of thousands of participants," he said.

The entrepreneur also clarified that Telegram calls will be protected by end-to-end encryption and "blockchain-like technology." According to Durov, this ensures that no one can secretly join the conversation as a listener.

Earlier, on January 17, Durov told the judges in France about his intention to improve the moderation of the messenger. According to some media reports, despite Durov's measures, the use of Telegram by criminals has only increased.

In August 2024, Durov was detained at Le Bourget airport in Paris. He was charged with a number of crimes, including drug distribution, crimes against children, money laundering and fraud. At the same time, he was released from custody on his own recognizance and bail in the amount of € 5 million. During the investigation, the court seized his passports and ordered him to live in Paris at a specific address.

The France-Presse news agency reported on March 15 that Durov had left France and traveled to Dubai with the court's permission for a while.