PARIS, France – Telegram’s chief executive, Pavel Durov, was arrested by French authorities at Le Bourget Airport, north of Paris.
The arrest, which took place shortly after Durov’s private jet landed, was made under a warrant reportedly linked to Telegram’s handling of content moderation and alleged criminal activities on the platform.
The 39-year-old billionaire, who holds citizenships in the United Arab Emirates and France, is accused of failing to take adequate steps to prevent illegal activities facilitated through Telegram, a messaging app popular in Russia, Ukraine, and other former Soviet Union states.
Although specific details of the charges remain under wraps, sources suggest they pertain to a broader investigation into Telegram’s role in enabling criminal activity, particularly in relation to the app’s encryption features and lack of moderation.
This arrest marks a significant development in the ongoing global debate about the balance between digital freedoms and regulatory oversight.
Telegram, which Durov founded in 2013, has long been celebrated for its commitment to user privacy, using end-to-end encryption and allowing anonymous messaging.
This stance, however, has also made it a tool for those seeking to evade detection, leading to clashes with authorities.
In Russia, for instance, Telegram was banned in 2018 after Durov refused to hand over user data to the government.
The ban was lifted in 2021, but tensions between Telegram and various governments have persisted.
Durov, who left Russia in 2014 after refusing government demands to shut down opposition groups on his previous social media platform VKontakte, has consistently positioned himself as a defender of free speech and privacy.
His arrest has sparked an outcry, with several Russian officials condemning the move. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova questioned whether Western human rights organizations, which had previously criticized Russia for restricting Telegram, would remain silent in the face of Durov’s arrest.
Meanwhile, the tech community has also taken notice, with Elon Musk, the owner of X (formerly known as Twitter), expressing his support for Durov.
Musk, who has faced criticism over moderation policies on his own platform, took to social media to rally behind Durov, posting hashtags like #freepavel and suggesting that Europe’s regulatory environment was becoming increasingly draconian.
The arrest, which took place shortly after Durov’s private jet landed, was made under a warrant reportedly linked to Telegram’s handling of content moderation and alleged criminal activities on the platform.
The 39-year-old billionaire, who holds citizenships in the United Arab Emirates and France, is accused of failing to take adequate steps to prevent illegal activities facilitated through Telegram, a messaging app popular in Russia, Ukraine, and other former Soviet Union states.
Although specific details of the charges remain under wraps, sources suggest they pertain to a broader investigation into Telegram’s role in enabling criminal activity, particularly in relation to the app’s encryption features and lack of moderation.
This arrest marks a significant development in the ongoing global debate about the balance between digital freedoms and regulatory oversight.
Telegram, which Durov founded in 2013, has long been celebrated for its commitment to user privacy, using end-to-end encryption and allowing anonymous messaging.
This stance, however, has also made it a tool for those seeking to evade detection, leading to clashes with authorities.
In Russia, for instance, Telegram was banned in 2018 after Durov refused to hand over user data to the government.
The ban was lifted in 2021, but tensions between Telegram and various governments have persisted.
Durov, who left Russia in 2014 after refusing government demands to shut down opposition groups on his previous social media platform VKontakte, has consistently positioned himself as a defender of free speech and privacy.
His arrest has sparked an outcry, with several Russian officials condemning the move. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova questioned whether Western human rights organizations, which had previously criticized Russia for restricting Telegram, would remain silent in the face of Durov’s arrest.
Meanwhile, the tech community has also taken notice, with Elon Musk, the owner of X (formerly known as Twitter), expressing his support for Durov.
Musk, who has faced criticism over moderation policies on his own platform, took to social media to rally behind Durov, posting hashtags like #freepavel and suggesting that Europe’s regulatory environment was becoming increasingly draconian.
