Durov's Code

😆 Scammers are back Telegram has been accused of turning a blind eye as Chinese shadow marketplaces return to the platform → just weeks after a mass takedown in May. @durovs_code

🛸 Deleted, but not really A U.S. court ruled that OpenAI must retain all ChatGPT conversations → even the ones users delete — citing potential copyright evidence. @durovs_code

⛔️ End-to-End Suspicion U.S. Congress has banned WhatsApp on official devices, calling it a “high-risk" app → due to unclear data practices and weak encryption. Staff have been told to delete it from both phones and desktops. @durovs_code

😆 China tightens digital control A new national digital ID system → for internet users takes effect on July 15. Formally voluntary, but expected to become essential for accessing most online services. @durovs_code

😄 Not-so-Deep Secrets Chinese AI startup DeepSeek → has reportedly been sharing user data and analytics with China’s military, according to a senior U.S. official. @durovs_code

🍏 No borders, no bezels Users might finally see an all-screen iPhone in 2027 — or so the insiders claim. Apple is reportedly working on a seamless design → with ultra-thin edges and no cutouts, just in time for the iPhone’s 20th anniversary. @durovs_code

🚘 Buckle up Chinese tech company Kuickwheel has introduced the Skyrider X6 — a hybrid flying electric motorcycle capable of both ground travel and autonomous flight. The three-wheeled vehicle features two operating modes: one for land movement as a reverse trike, and another for vertical takeoff and flight using a 6-rotor electric system. It can reach speeds of up to 72 km/h in the air, fly for around 20 minutes, and travel up to 200 km on the ground. The Skyrider X6 supports both automated route planning and manual joystick control. Pre-orders are now open in China, with a price tag of approximately $69,000. @durovs_code

❤️ This weekend in #TECH 💘 Neuralink plans to test its vision-restoring eye Implant in 2026. 💘 Apple reportedly considered acquiring AI search startup Perplexity. 💘 Meta and Oakley unveiled AI-powered smart glasses for athletes. @durovs_code

🐈 Telegram profiles on Android are getting a makeover Telegram has launched a design contest inviting developers to redesign user profiles in the Android app. 💘 Prize pool — $50,000. 💘 The winner will be offered a job in Dubai with a salary of up to $1M. 💘 Deadline — July 11, 2025. Participants are tasked with rethinking the current interface for all profile types: users, channels, and groups (including topic-based tabbed groups). The redesign must support both light and dark themes, as well as related tabs and UI elements — including gift displays. Full details are available on Telegram’s official contest channel. @durovs_code

🤔 Make TikTok Great Again Trump has delayed the TikTok ban again → this time by 90 days — saying the app is just too useful for talking to young voters during an election year. @durovs_code

💻 Work in progress A new to-do list feature is being tested in the beta version of Telegram for iOS. 💘 It lets users track tasks directly in chat — whether in private messages or group chats. 💘 Each list can include up to 30 items, which can be edited at any time. 💘 Depending on settings, new tasks can be added either by the list creator only or by all chat members. Two separate toggles will control who can add tasks and who can mark them as complete. 💘 A small avatar will appear next to the checkbox showing who completed the task. @durovs_code

😆 More passwords than people Researchers have discovered the biggest credential leak ever: over 16 billion records → including logins, passwords, tokens, and cookies — are now floating in the open. @durovs_code

😂 A small win A Paris appeals court has granted Pavel Durov permission to leave France and travel to Dubai, where his family resides and where Telegram's offices are based, according to French newspaper Le Monde. The authorization takes effect on July 10 and allows the Telegram founder to remain in Dubai for no more than 14 consecutive days. Before departure, Durov must notify the investigating judge. All other conditions of the court order remain unchanged. His lawyer, Christophe Ingrain, criticized law enforcement for “amateurism” and “multiple errors,” saying they had failed to use the proper procedures or communication channels. This is the second time the court has approved Durov’s trip to Dubai — the first was in March this year. @durovs_code

😽 Starship explodes during ground test in Texas SpaceX has confirmed that its Starship prototype, Ship 36, suffered a “serious anomaly” during a static fire test at the company’s Starbase facility. The rocket was anchored to the launch pad and undergoing its second engine ignition test when it burst into flames around 11:00 p.m. local time. The blast was powerful enough to shake nearby homes, with secondary fires reported at the site. Fortunately, no injuries or public safety risks were reported. Starship was being prepped for its tenth test flight. SpaceX has not yet disclosed the cause of the failure. @durovs_code

⛔️ Messaging, but make it illegal Telegram has been temporarily banned → in Malaysia after authorities accused it of “systematic inaction” and failing to remove harmful content. According to the country’s media regulator, this is the first legal case against a social media platform in Malaysia. @durovs_code

⚡️ Pavel Durov breaks his silence — in French Telegram’s founder gave his first-ever interview to a French media outlet. He opened up about why Telegram isn’t for sale, how he makes money, his views on freedom, AI, fatherhood — and the secret project led by his brother Nikolai. We pulled the key takeaways from Le Point — read them here → @durovs_code

🦴 $100M can’t buy vibes OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, speaking on the Uncapped podcast, accused Meta of poaching employees. According to him, Zuckerberg’s company has been offering staff bonuses of up to $100 million and high salaries. However, Altman noted that “so far none of our best people have decided to take them up on that.” He believes employees are turning down the offers due to differing philosophies around AI. Altman suggested that Meta is more focused on money and commercial success, rather than mission and purpose.

“There’s many things I respect about Meta as a company, but I don’t think they’re a company that’s great at innovation,” he concluded.

@durovs_code

🤐 With partners like these… OpenAI’s biggest partner might soon become its biggest problem. The company is reportedly considering filing an antitrust complaint → against Microsoft — accusing the tech giant of tightening its grip and blocking OpenAI’s plans to go fully commercial. @durovs_code

🛸 Flash, but make it Lite Google has released the stable versions → of Gemini 2.5 Pro and Flash — and introduced Flash-Lite, the "fastest and most efficient" model in the Gemini family. @durovs_code