Telegram founder Pavel Durov states Iran's ban on the app backfired. He notes thousands of developers are now building VPNs to bypass government internet control, showing the ban strengthened efforts against censorship.

Pavel Durov, the founder of the popular messaging app Telegram, recently stated that the Iranian government's attempt to ban Telegram did not work as intended. Instead of restricting access, the ban unintentionally led to a surge in innovation. Durov highlighted that thousands of software developers in the region are now actively creating Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). These tools, which allow users to secure their internet connection and bypass restrictions, are being developed to circumvent the state's control over online information. This situation demonstrates how censorship can sometimes encourage greater efforts for digital freedom.