Misguided Arrest: Telegram CEO Pavel Durov Responds to French Authorities....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of Telegram, has spoken out against his recent arrest in France, labeling the authorities’ approach as “misguided.” Durov was detained on August 25 at an airport near Paris and is now under formal investigation for alleged complicity in facilitating illicit activities, including drug trafficking and the distribution of child abuse images, on his platform.

In his first public statement following the arrest, Durov strongly denied the accusations that Telegram operates as “some sort of anarchic paradise.” He emphasized that such claims are “absolutely untrue,” asserting, “We take down millions of harmful posts and channels every day.”

Criticism of Legal Proceedings

Durov expressed his dissatisfaction with the legal proceedings, arguing, “Using laws from the pre-smartphone era to charge a CEO with crimes committed by third parties on the platform he manages is a misguided approach.” He cautioned that holding innovators personally liable for misuse by others could stifle the development of new tools and technologies.

Despite acknowledging the challenges faced by Telegram due to a sharp increase in users—now estimated at 950 million—Durov assured users that improvements in moderation are forthcoming. “The abrupt increase in users caused growing pains that made it easier for criminals to abuse our platform,” he explained.

Ongoing Investigation

The investigation into Durov does not imply guilt but suggests there is enough evidence to proceed. He maintained that French authorities could easily reach out to him or Telegram’s EU representative to address any concerns regarding illegal content.

Telegram has faced scrutiny in several countries for its moderation policies. In the UK, the app has been criticized for hosting far-right channels, while in France, detractors argue that the platform’s large group sizes enable the spread of extremist content.

Background on Pavel Durov

Durov, a Russian-born billionaire with multiple citizenships, including French, Emirati, and Saint Kitts and Nevis, founded Telegram in 2013. The messaging app has become particularly popular in Russia and other former Soviet states. Currently residing mostly in the UAE, Durov became a French citizen in 2021.

Earlier reports indicated that Durov was taken into custody upon his arrival at Paris-Le Bourget Airport. In an interview with American journalist Tucker Carlson in April, Durov discussed his disagreements with the Russian government and the pressures he faced in the U.S. He revealed that the American government had sought to have him implement a surveillance “backdoor” in his messaging service, a request he firmly declined.