They're sitting on troves of data. Extremely few use the E2E encrypted "secure chat" feature (mainly because it isn't default, but also because it doesn't sync between devices) and all the chat logs and data are stored on their servers (and are readable by Telegram). They also store your address book on their servers.
I'm sure they will find ways monetize this. Data is the "new gold", as they say[1]...
And what in the world makes you think that a company run by a russian nationalist[1] offering a free service with a million dollar bill will stick by their word (which, in this case is literally a single word)? The naivety of people in this post Snowden world is striking to me.
Are you really serious? This is a post snowden society.
> An FAQ isn't binding.
Probably not, but please beware that this service is not subject to US law, but the laws of the Russian Federation.
> What does their TOS say?
TOS are subject to change, right? And even if it wasn't, do you really think the TOS will stop a company run by a russian nationalist[1] offering a free service with a million dollar bill will stick by their word (which, in this case is literally a single word)?
I'm sure they will find ways monetize this. Data is the "new gold", as they say[1]...
[1] https://www.google.com/#q="data+is+the+new+gold"