Pavel Durov, the founder of the popular messaging platform and social media network Telegram, recently made a surprising revelation: the entire company operates with just thirty engineers and has no human resources (HR) department. Durov shared these insights during an interview podcast, presumably aiming to portray the lack of traditional corporate departments like HR, Legal, and security audits as a positive move towards efficiency.
The Telegram Team
Durov stated that he serves as the only product manager at Telegram and that employing only “about 30 engineers” is acceptable because the team is “super efficient.” While this minimalist approach may sound impressive, it has raised significant concerns among security experts and industry observers.
Security Concerns
Telegram has already faced criticism for not enabling end-to-end encryption by default, relying on a proprietary encryption algorithm, and hosting its servers in the UAE, where it is based in Dubai. The news of its minimal staffing has only amplified these concerns.
Eva Galperin, the Director of Cybersecurity at the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), voiced her apprehensions to TechCrunch, suggesting that such an understaffed team makes Telegram an attractive target for cyberattackers. “If I was a threat actor, I would definitely consider this to be encouraging news. Every attacker loves a profoundly understaffed and overworked opponent,” Galperin noted.
Operational Gaps
Beyond cybersecurity, there are broader operational issues at play. While a team of engineers can maintain critical infrastructure, they may not be equipped to handle other essential aspects of running a business. Legal matters, abuse, and content moderation are just a few areas where the lack of specialized staff could lead to significant problems.
“‘Thirty engineers’ means that there is no one to fight legal requests, and there is no infrastructure for dealing with abuse and content moderation issues,” Galperin continued. This could leave Telegram vulnerable to lawsuits, subpoenas, and regulatory scrutiny.
A Risky Strategy
Durov’s strategy might appeal to those who favor a streamlined, anti-establishment approach to business, but the potential risks cannot be ignored. The absence of a comprehensive support system for legal, HR, and security functions could expose Telegram to various threats and challenges that might eventually undermine its operations.
While Durov’s minimalist approach might seem like an efficient way to run a tech company, the reality is that having a skeletal crew without essential support systems is a risky endeavor. Only time will tell if this strategy will pay off or if it will lead to significant complications for Telegram.
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