Telegram has come to the defense of its CEO, Pavel Durov, after his arrest at a French airport on Saturday, asserting that he has “nothing to hide.” Durov, who was detained under a warrant north of Paris, is under investigation for insufficient moderation on the platform, which authorities claim has allowed criminal activities to flourish. Telegram is accused of not doing enough to curb illegal activities such as drug trafficking, child exploitation, and fraud.
According to officials, the arrest stems from accusations that Telegram has failed to cooperate with law enforcement. The platform, with nearly a billion users worldwide, is facing increasing scrutiny for its alleged role in facilitating illegal activities due to its large, loosely moderated user base.
Telegram responded to the accusations, calling them “absurd” and defending its moderation practices, which it claims meet industry standards and are constantly being improved. The company added, “It is unreasonable to hold a platform or its founder accountable for the misuse of the service by some users.” Telegram has also reiterated its commitment to adhering to European Union laws, including the Digital Services Act, which seeks to ensure safer online spaces.
Pavel Durov, 39, who holds citizenships in both the United Arab Emirates and France, founded Telegram in 2013 and now resides in Dubai. He has faced controversies before, especially in Russia, where the platform was banned in 2018 after he refused to comply with demands to hand over user data. That ban was lifted in 2021. Telegram remains particularly popular in Russia, Ukraine, and former Soviet Union states.
The arrest of Durov has sparked diplomatic efforts from the Russian government, which still considers him a Russian citizen. The Russian embassy in France has demanded clarification from French authorities and is pushing for consular access to Durov. Russia’s foreign ministry has criticized the lack of cooperation from French officials, with spokesperson Maria Zakharova taking to Telegram to question whether Western human rights organizations would speak out against Durov’s detention.
This situation has also drawn the attention of high-profile figures. American whistleblower Edward Snowden condemned Durov’s arrest as “an assault on basic human rights,” and Twitter owner Elon Musk voiced his support for Durov, sharing the hashtag #freepavel and criticizing Europe’s handling of free speech issues.
Telegram, which allows group chats with up to 200,000 members, has been criticized for enabling the spread of misinformation, far-right extremism, and illegal content. In the UK, the app came under fire recently for hosting channels linked to violent unrest. While Telegram has removed some of these groups, experts argue that its moderation efforts lag behind other platforms.
As of Sunday, judicial sources reported that Durov’s detention has been extended and could last up to 96 hours. The outcome of the investigation remains uncertain, but Telegram has expressed confidence in a swift resolution.
For more information, read the full report on BBC News.