Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has been arrested by French authorities at Le Bourget Airport, located north of Paris, after landing in his private jet. The 39-year-old billionaire, who holds dual citizenship in the United Arab Emirates and France, was detained under a warrant related to his messaging app, Telegram.
The arrest is reportedly linked to an investigation into the app’s moderation practices. French officials accuse Durov of failing to take adequate measures to prevent the use of Telegram for criminal activities, including drug trafficking, child sexual exploitation, and fraud. Telegram has previously denied claims of insufficient moderation.
Durov, originally from Russia and now based in Dubai, founded Telegram in 2013. The app has become especially popular in Russia, Ukraine, and other former Soviet Union countries. It ranks among the major global social media platforms, alongside Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, and WeChat.
Telegram has had a contentious history with Russian authorities. It was banned in Russia in 2018 after Durov refused to hand over user data to the government, though the ban was lifted in 2021. Durov previously left Russia in 2014 after resisting government demands to shut down opposition groups on his former social media platform, VKontakte.
Following Durov’s arrest, the Russian Embassy in France stated on Facebook that it was working to clarify the reasons for his detention and to ensure his rights were protected, though it criticized French authorities for a lack of cooperation. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova questioned whether Western human rights organizations would remain silent on the issue, given their past criticism of Russia’s actions against Telegram.
The arrest has drawn widespread criticism from Russian officials, who accuse the West of double standards regarding free speech and democracy. Edward Snowden, the American whistleblower residing in Russia, described Durov’s arrest as an assault on basic human rights. Elon Musk, owner of social media platform X, also weighed in, criticizing the arrest and using the hashtag #freepavel.
Telegram’s moderation policies have long been under scrutiny, with critics arguing that the platform allows the spread of misinformation and illegal content. The app was recently criticized in the UK for hosting far-right channels linked to violent disorder. Although Telegram has removed some groups, experts argue that its overall approach to moderating extremist content remains weaker than that of other platforms.
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