Telegram CEO Pavel Durov Arrested in Paris on Serious Allegations
Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of Telegram, a widely-used messaging platform, was arrested on Saturday evening at Paris-Le Bourget Airport. According to reports from French media outlets LCI and TF1, Durov, who holds dual citizenship in France and Russia, was detained under an arrest warrant issued by French authorities. The charges against Durov stem from allegations that Telegram has been used for a range of illicit activities, including money laundering, drug trafficking, and other serious offenses.
Arrest Details
Durov, 39, was apprehended by investigators from the National Anti-Fraud Office, a branch of the French customs department. His detention occurred shortly after his arrival from Azerbaijan. French prosecutors, when contacted by the Associated Press, declined to comment on the arrest, citing ongoing investigations. Reports suggest that the arrest warrant was issued at the behest of a special unit within France’s interior ministry responsible for investigating crimes against minors, such as online sexual exploitation and the distribution of child sexual abuse content.
Durov’s representatives have not yet commented on his arrest, and a French judicial official hinted that Durov might appear before a judge later on Sunday to determine whether he would remain in custody. This process would involve deciding whether to extend his police custody, a decision that typically requires judicial approval.
Background on Telegram and Durov
Telegram was founded by Durov and his brother in the wake of the Russian government’s crackdown on pro-democracy protests between 2011 and 2012. The platform quickly gained popularity in Russia, offering a secure and private means of communication in a climate where the government was increasingly tightening its grip on the digital space. Telegram’s refusal to hand over encryption keys to Russian authorities led to an unsuccessful attempt by Russia’s media watchdog, Roskomnadzor, to block the app in 2018. The ban was eventually lifted in 2020, and Telegram has continued to operate freely in Russia, including by government institutions.
In March 2024, Roskomnadzor reported that Telegram had removed over 256,000 posts containing prohibited content at the agency’s request, indicating some level of cooperation between the platform and Russian authorities. Despite this, Telegram remains a crucial tool for information dissemination in Ukraine, where it is used by both media outlets and government officials to share updates on the ongoing conflict and issue missile and air raid alerts.
Telegram’s Response
Following the arrest, Telegram released a statement defending its practices, asserting that it complies with EU laws, including the Digital Services Act. The company emphasized that its moderation practices are “within industry standards and constantly improving.” Telegram also defended Durov, stating that he “has nothing to hide and travels frequently in Europe.” The company criticized the idea that a platform or its owner could be held responsible for the misuse of the platform by its users, highlighting that nearly a billion people globally use Telegram for communication and vital information.
Ongoing Criticism and Global Legal Challenges
Telegram has often been criticized by Western governments and experts for its perceived lack of content moderation, which they argue opens the platform to misuse for criminal activities. David Thiel, a researcher at Stanford University’s Internet Observatory, noted that compared to other messaging platforms, Telegram is “less secure” and “more lax” in its policies. Thiel also pointed out that while WhatsApp submitted over 1.3 million CyberTipline reports in 2023, Telegram submitted none.
Telegram has faced legal challenges in several countries. In 2022, Germany fined Telegram 5.125 million euros ($5 million) for failing to comply with local laws requiring the establishment of a legal way to report illegal content and the appointment of a representative to receive official communications. Brazil also temporarily suspended Telegram last year for failing to provide data on neo-Nazi activities linked to a police inquiry into school shootings.
International Reactions
Durov’s arrest has sparked a range of reactions. Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of the social media site X and a self-described “free speech absolutist,” tweeted “#freePavel” in support of Durov. Meanwhile, Russian government officials expressed outrage, with some accusing the West of double standards on freedom of speech. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova pointed out that in 2018, a group of 26 NGOs, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, condemned Russia’s attempt to block Telegram. Zakharova questioned whether these organizations would now appeal to Paris to demand Durov’s release.
Zakharova also mentioned that officials at the Russian Embassy in Paris had requested access to Durov, but she added that French authorities consider Durov’s French citizenship as his primary one.
Telegram’s Commitment to Combating Misuse
In a statement to the Associated Press earlier this month, Telegram emphasized its efforts to combat the misuse of its platform. The company stated that moderators use a combination of proactive monitoring and user reports to remove content that breaches Telegram’s terms of service, removing millions of pieces of harmful content daily. As the investigation continues, the tech community will be closely watching how the situation develops and what it could mean for the future of Telegram and its leadership.
