Durov detained over alleged failure to moderate criminal content on Telegram amid rising scrutiny of the app’s operations.
Telegram’s CEO, Pavel Durov, has been arrested by French police at Le Bourget Airport, located north of Paris. The 39-year-old billionaire was detained after his private jet landed, according to French media reports.
Durov’s arrest comes under a warrant related to alleged offenses associated with the popular messaging app Telegram. The investigation focuses on accusations of insufficient moderation on the platform, with Durov reportedly failing to take adequate measures to prevent criminal activities on Telegram, such as drug trafficking, child exploitation, and fraud. Telegram has previously denied accusations of inadequate moderation and has emphasized its commitment to user privacy and security.
Durov, who was born in Russia and currently resides in Dubai, holds dual citizenship in the United Arab Emirates and France. Telegram, founded by Durov in 2013, is particularly popular in Russia, Ukraine, and former Soviet Union states. The app faced a ban in Russia in 2018 after Durov refused to provide user data to the government, but the ban was lifted in 2021.
The Russian Embassy in France is seeking access to Durov following his detention. In a statement posted on Facebook, the embassy noted that it had requested clarification from French authorities regarding the reasons for Durov’s detention and called for the protection of his rights and facilitation of consular access. “As of today, the French authorities are not cooperating on this issue,” the embassy added, stating that it is in contact with Durov’s lawyer.
Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, expressed frustration over Durov’s arrest on Telegram, questioning whether Western human rights NGOs would remain silent on the matter after previously criticizing Russia for imposing restrictions on Telegram in 2018. Several Russian officials have condemned the arrest, alleging that it demonstrates Western double standards on issues of free speech and democracy.
Elon Musk, owner of X (formerly known as Twitter), also weighed in on the situation, posting repeatedly about Durov’s arrest. In one post, Musk used the hashtag #freepavel and, in another, wrote, “POV: It’s 2030 in Europe and you’re being executed for liking a meme,” highlighting his concerns over moderation and content control on social media platforms.
#FreePavel
pic.twitter.com/B7AcJWswMs— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 25, 2024
Telegram, known for its privacy features and ability to host large groups of up to 200,000 members, has faced criticism for allowing the spread of misinformation and extremist content. Critics argue that its lax moderation policies enable the viral spread of conspiracies, neo-Nazi propaganda, pedophilic material, and terror-related content. In the UK, the app was scrutinized for hosting far-right channels that were instrumental in organizing violent protests in several cities earlier this month. While Telegram has removed some groups, cybersecurity experts maintain that its moderation efforts remain significantly weaker than those of other social media companies and messaging apps.
As Durov’s legal situation unfolds, it raises further questions about the responsibilities of social media platforms and messaging apps in moderating content and cooperating with law enforcement authorities worldwide.
