Paris, France – Pavel Durov, the Russian-born founder of Telegram, is set to make an appearance in a French court following his arrest at a Paris airport for alleged offenses related to the messaging app. Sources revealed that the Franco-Russian tech billionaire was detained by police at Le Bourget airport after a warrant was issued for his arrest by French investigators. The inquiry into Durov includes allegations of fraud, drug trafficking, organized crime, promotion of terrorism, and cyberbullying.
Durov is facing accusations of neglecting to address the criminal use of his platform, which led to his arrest upon arrival in Paris from Baku. His detention was prolonged by the investigating magistrate overseeing the case, as reported by a source familiar with the investigation. In response, Telegram stated that it complies with EU laws, including the Digital Services Act, and continuously improves its moderation practices within industry standards.
Departing Russia in 2014, Durov’s move came after refusing Kremlin demands to shut down opposition groups on VK, the social network he founded. Turning his focus to Telegram, which he established with his brother Nikolai in 2013, the app has evolved into a more expansive social network, boasting 950 million active monthly users. However, it has also garnered attention for being a significant source of both information and disinformation regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Living in Dubai, where Telegram is headquartered, Durov holds citizenship in France and the United Arab Emirates. The UAE provides a lax environment for Telegram in terms of content moderation, contrasting with western governments’ efforts to combat hate speech and illegal content sharing. The app’s end-to-end encryption feature has attracted extremists and conspiracy theorists, leading to concerns about Telegram becoming a breeding ground for radical opinions.
Prominent figures such as Dmitry Medvedev and Tucker Carlson have weighed in on Durov’s situation, expressing contrasting views on his actions and stance on platform neutrality. The arrest has also sparked commentary from notable individuals like Elon Musk and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., highlighting the broader implications for free speech protection in the digital age. As the legal proceedings unfold, the outcome will likely have implications for the future of online platforms and their responsibilities regarding content moderation.