Is Telegram owned by Facebook

No, Telegram is not owned by Facebook.

Telegram is an independent, cloud-based messaging platform founded in 2013 by Russian-born entrepreneurs Pavel Durov and his brother Nikolai Durov. It was created as a privacy-focused alternative to other messaging apps, allowing users to communicate via encrypted messages, voice calls, video chats, and large group discussions.

On the other hand, Facebook now operating under the parent company name Meta Platforms Inc. owns messaging services like Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp. WhatsApp, in particular, is a direct competitor to Telegram in the instant messaging space.

While Meta’s services have faced criticism for how they handle user data, Telegram has positioned itself as a more secure and private option. Telegram does not sell ads or data to third parties and offers end-to-end encryption for its Secret Chats (though regular chats are cloud-based and encrypted but not end-to-end by default).

• Telegram is not owned by Facebook or Meta.

• It was created and is run independently by Pavel Durov.

• Telegram and Facebook/Meta are separate entities with competing messaging services.