Claims that Durov or the platform is accountable for user abuse were refuted by Telegram, which declared that it abides by EU law and referred to the allegations as “absurd.”
Sunday saw Telegram questioning France’s decision to detain its CEO, Pavel Durov, who had been held at a Paris airport during the weekend.
The app said on X on Monday that “Telegram abides by EU laws, including the Digital Services Act—its moderation is within industry standards and constantly improving.” Durov, who travels throughout Europe on a regular basis, was also said to have “nothing to hide.”
The platform, based in Dubai, stated that it is “absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform.”
⚖️ Telegram abides by EU laws, including the Digital Services Act — its moderation is within industry standards and constantly improving.
— Telegram Messenger (@telegram) August 25, 2024
✈️ Telegram's CEO Pavel Durov has nothing to hide and travels frequently in Europe.
😵💫 It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner…
According to local media, Durov was taken into custody by authorities on Saturday at the airport near Paris, Bourget. The CEO was reportedly arrested by French authorities when he arrived on his private jet from Azerbaijan. He was born in Russia, but he is also a dual citizen of the United Arab Emirates and France.
The arrest is connected to an inquiry into whether or not crimes like human trafficking and terrorism have been made possible by Telegram’s content moderation. Although Durov has not yet been formally charged, Telegram’s moderation policies are the focus of the investigation.
Telegram-linked Toncoin has plunged 17% following the arrest. The token was down 1.1% on Monday.
French Authorities Extend Pavel Durov’s Detention
Durov’s detention was extended by French judicial authorities on Sunday, indicating that they are taking the accusations against him seriously. This extension, which carries a maximum 96-hour duration, signifies a thorough examination of the allegations.
The French authorities were contacted by the Russian Embassy in Paris to inquire about the reasons behind the detention. They also insisted on granting consular access and defending Durov’s rights.
Following his arrest, debates concerning how to strike a balance between privacy, free speech, and content moderation have heated up. Some critics argue that Durov’s arrest due to platform content sets a dangerous precedent for internet freedom, while others say it emphasizes the need for stricter platform regulations.
With almost 1 billion users, the massively influential encrypted app has significant influence over Russia, Ukraine, and the former Soviet republics.
Durov Refused to Cooperate with Russian Government Over Data
In April, Durov, whose net worth Forbes estimates at $15.5b, mentioned that certain governments had tried to influence him. However, he highlighted that Telegram should remain a neutral platform, not engaging as a “player in geopolitics”.
In 2014, he departed Russia after clashing with the Russian government over the control and censorship of his social media platform, VK (formerly VKontakte). He was kicked off of VK and forced to leave Russia after he refused to comply with government demands to remove content created by opposition politicians and turn over user data.
Durov came up with the concept for an encrypted messaging app while under duress. Nikolai, his younger brother, was in charge of creating the encryption. Whether or not Durov renounced his Russian citizenship is unknown to the general public.
When asked in April about his plans to leave Russia and find a base for his business, Durov stated, “I would rather be free than to take orders from anyone.”