Telegram CEO slams WhatsApp as cheap copycat, offers Rs 2.72 Lakh bounty to expose it
Telegram and WhatsApp's long-running rivalry just got more interesting. And, to top it all, it can fetch you a cool Rs 2.72 lakh.The billionaire co-founder and CEO of Telegram, Pavel Durov, has launched a scathing attack on WhatsApp, calling it a 'cheap copycat', while simultaneously announcing a $50,000 (roughly Rs 2.72 lakh) bounty to expose it. As part of the contest, Telegram is now asking people to create TikTok-style videos that highlight how WhatsApp has been copying its many features.advertisementThe announcement comes in response to ongoing reports that suggest WhatsApp has allegedly engaged in smear campaigns against Telegram. Durov aims to raise awareness amongst WhatsApp users about how many of their favourite features were in fact rolled out first by Telegram. To help creators get started, Telegram has released a list of 30 features it says it pioneered before WhatsApp went and allegedly copied them. Durov also claimed the list is 'far from complete,' meaning that Telegram still offers many more tools that WhatsApp doesn't.
The contest is open to everyone. The deadline for submission is May 26, 2025. The winners will be announced in June. Telegram notes that these videos must be in English and under 180 seconds in length. Creators can also use AI to make these videos.advertisementThis isn't the first time Durov has called out WhatsApp. Back in 2022, he accused the platform of having built-in backdoors that allegedly compromised user security. He warned, 'If you have WhatsApp installed, all your data from every app is accessible.''Use any messaging app you like, but stay away from WhatsApp,' he advised users.In other news, Durov recently alleged that a Western European government – hinted to be France – asked Telegram to censor conservative voices in Romania ahead of the country's presidential elections. 'I flatly refused,' Durov said, vowing to protect free speech.
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