Telegram Rolls Out Free End-to-End Encrypted Group Video Calls for 200 Users, Outshining Google and Microsoft

Telegram has unveiled a significant update that introduces free, end-to-end encrypted video calls for up to 200 participants, placing it ahead of rivals like Google Meet and Microsoft Teams. This comes on the heels of the platform's recent integration of Grok AI chatbot, and follows the company’s previous legal challenges—marking a period of rapid feature expansion and renewed user focus.

Telegram Boosts Group Calling with Encryption & More Features

Encrypted Group Video Calls for Up to 200 Participants

One of the major upgrades in this release is the addition of end-to-end encrypted group video calls, a feature that builds upon Telegram’s group calling launched in 2021. Users can now start secure conference calls without needing to create a group chat, supporting up to 200 people simultaneously.

These calls are versatile, suitable for casual chats or large business meetings. Participants can share video, audio, or even their screens, and invitations can be sent via QR codes or direct call links.

To ensure call security, four randomly generated emojis appear on-screen for callers to compare, confirming encryption is functioning correctly. Telegram notes that these calls are supported by a distributed security framework inspired by blockchain.

The company reiterated its commitment to privacy and transparency, highlighting that its encryption system is open-source and backed by a $100,000 challenge (approximately ₹84.68 lakh) to anyone who can crack it—a challenge that remains unbeaten for over 10 years.

New Capabilities for Premium Telegram Business Accounts

Telegram has also introduced new tools tailored for Premium Business users. These enhancements allow organizations to automate tasks using third-party bots, including AI-powered bots.

These bots can manage:

• Messaging

• Profile updates

• Transactional interactions

• Story creation and sharing

Businesses have fine-grained control over bot permissions, with options to toggle capabilities like editing posts, managing messages, or accessing profile information.

Streamlined Account Moderation & Appeals System

Aiming for greater transparency and user trust, Telegram now freezes accounts flagged for rule violations rather than suspending them outright. Affected users are given the opportunity to appeal within the app itself, and upon successful appeal, all restrictions will be reversed.

This move follows a recent lawsuit involving Telegram CEO Pavel Durov, and is likely part of the platform's broader commitment to balancing safety with fairness.

New Gesture Controls for Enhanced User Experience

Telegram has also upgraded its gesture interface:

• On Android and iOS, users can now forward messages by dragging the share arrow in a single motion.

• On iOS, users can swipe right on the main chat or story feed to directly open the Story Editor, enhancing content creation speed and usability.

Telegram’s Push for Global Messaging Dominance

With this feature-packed update, Telegram is positioning itself as a leading platform in the messaging space. Its consistent focus on privacy, innovation, user experience, and business tools aims to address the varied needs of its global audience.

History of Telegram 

Telegram Founding and Early Years (2013-2014):

Telegram Founders:

Telegram was founded in 2013 by brothers Nikolai and Pavel Durov. They are also the creators of VKontakte (VK), Russia's largest social network.  

• Motivation: The Durov brothers developed Telegram as a secure messaging system to communicate privately without government interference, particularly after Pavel faced pressure and eventually left VK in 2014 due to resisting government demands.

• Launch: Telegram was initially launched for iOS on August 14, 2013, and for Android on October 20, 2013.

• Development: Nikolai Durov created the MTProto protocol, which forms the basis for Telegram's messenger security. Pavel Durov provided financial support and infrastructure through his Digital Fortress fund.  

• Early Growth: By March 2014, Telegram had reached 35 million monthly users and 15 million daily active users. In October 2014, a South Korean government surveillance plan led many citizens to switch to Telegram. By December 2014, it had 50 million active users and was generating 1 billion daily messages, with 1 million new users joining weekly.  

Telegram Growth and Key Developments (2015-Present):

• Continued User Growth: Telegram reached 60 million active users with 12 billion daily messages by September 2015. By January 2021, it had grown to "about 500 million" monthly active users.

• Headquarters and Structure: Telegram is legally domiciled in Tortola, British Virgin Islands, and its operational center is in Dubai, United Arab Emirates since 2017. The company states this complex structure and distributed data centers worldwide are to protect the team from unnecessary influence and user data from governmental requests.

Telegram Features and Functionality:

Telegram offers a range of features including:

• Exchange of messages, photos, videos, and files of all types.

• Group chats with a capacity of up to 200,000 members.

• Public broadcast channels with unlimited subscribers.  

• Voice and video calls, including group calls and public livestreams.  

• Secret Chats offering end-to-end encryption for one-on-one conversations. Standard chats are protected by server-client encryption.  

Telegram Controversies and Censorship:

• Russia Ban: Telegram was banned in Russia from April 2018 to June 2020 after refusing to cooperate with security services. The ban was eventually lifted.  

• Content Moderation: Telegram has faced criticism for its relatively hands-off approach to content moderation, leading to its use by extremist groups and for illegal activities.  

• Pavel Durov's Arrest: In August 2024, Pavel Durov was arrested in France as part of a preliminary investigation into the platform's alleged lack of content moderation. This event drew significant attention and raised concerns about free speech and platform responsibility. Following his arrest, Telegram announced a new crackdown on illegal content and updated its terms of service to share infringers' details with authorities in response to valid legal requests.  

• Data Sharing with the US Government: Following Pavel Durov's arrest, Telegram's transparency report indicated a significant increase in data requests fulfilled for the US government in late 2024, along with a change in its privacy policy to allow sharing IP addresses and phone numbers in response to valid legal requests.  

Telegram Monetization: While Telegram's end goal is stated as not for profit, it has explored monetization strategies for businesses using the platform.  

Telegram User Base:

As of 2024, Telegram reportedly has over 900 million monthly active users and over 80,000 servers worldwide. India is reported to be its largest market.  

In summary, Telegram has evolved from a secure messaging app founded by the Durov brothers with a focus on privacy to a major global social media and instant messaging platform.

Its history is marked by rapid growth, a strong emphasis on security (though not end-to-end by default), and increasing scrutiny regarding content moderation and government requests for user data.

The arrest of Pavel Durov in 2024 brought these issues into sharp focus, leading to some changes in the platform's approach to content and data sharing.