At the time, Telegram (and Pavel Durov in particular) found itself under the microscope. But even then, it still felt possible to describe it as a messaging platform caught up in a broader regulatory battle. This week, Russia formally charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with facilitating terrorism and announced plans to place him on an international wanted list. From Messaging App To Digital InfrastructureWhen Telegram launched in 2013, it was largely positioned as an alternative to WhatsApp and other messaging services. Governments may tolerate a messaging platform, but they tend to pay much closer attention to communications networks that influence politics, public opinion and national security.