Pavel Durov, the CEO of the popular messaging app Telegram, was arrested at a Paris airport for offenses related to his app. The Franco-Russian billionaire was detained at Le Bourget airport on Saturday night after arriving from Baku, Azerbaijan. France’s OFMIN office had issued an arrest warrant for Durov in connection with a preliminary investigation into alleged offenses including fraud, drug trafficking, cyberbullying, organized crime, and terrorism promotion. An investigating magistrate was set to decide on Durov’s detention extension on Sunday, which could result in charges or his release.
Russian authorities accused France of “refusing to cooperate” following Durov’s arrest, as they had demanded access to him with no response from the French. The Russian Embassy in Paris stated that they asked for an explanation for Durov’s detention and demanded his rights be protected and consular access be granted, but France refused to cooperate. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that France considered Durov’s French citizenship to be his main nationality. Businessman Elon Musk took to social media to support Durov with the hashtag #FreePavel, while former US presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr emphasized the importance of protecting free speech.
Telegram, an encrypted messaging app based in Dubai, is known for its commitment to user privacy and independence from U.S.-owned platforms that exploit personal data. Durov, in an interview with Tucker Carlson, shared that the idea for Telegram came after facing pressure from the Russian government while working at VK, a social network he created. He settled in Dubai due to its business environment and neutrality. Telegram’s user base has grown to over 900 million active users, positioning itself as an alternative to large platforms facing scrutiny over moderation of illegal content. By basing itself in the UAE, Telegram has avoided moderation laws that Western countries are pressuring large platforms to adhere to.
Telegram has been criticized for allowing groups of up to 200,000 members, which makes it easier for false information to spread virally and for users to share unacceptable content, such as neo-Nazi, paedophilic, conspiratorial, and terrorist content. Competitor WhatsApp introduced message forwarding limits in 2019 to combat the spread of false information in India that led to violence. The platform has faced accusations of facilitating the spread of harmful content due to its lack of moderation and encryption features. Despite these challenges, Telegram remains popular among users for its promise of independence, privacy, and freedom.
The case against Durov highlights the ongoing debate around the responsibilities of platform owners regarding the content shared by their users. Authorities believe Durov failed to take action against criminal use of Telegram, leading to his arrest in France. As the CEO of a popular messaging app with millions of users worldwide, Durov’s legal issues raise questions about the balance between user privacy, freedom of speech, and the prevention of illegal activities on online platforms. The outcome of Durov’s legal proceedings will likely have implications for the future regulation of messaging apps and the responsibilities of their owners in ensuring a safe and secure online environment for users.
