Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of Telegram, recently responded to his arrest by French authorities, calling the situation “misguided.” He was detained on August 25 at an airport near Paris, and later placed under formal investigation. The allegations against him include complicity in enabling illicit activities such as drug trafficking, fraud, and the spread of child abuse images on the Telegram platform.
French authorities have accused Durov of not properly moderating Telegram, allowing illegal content to flourish on the messaging app. These accusations have led to his formal investigation, which in France does not necessarily imply guilt, but indicates that the case has enough weight for further inquiry.
Durov, in his first public statement after the arrest, strongly denied these claims. He stated that holding him responsible for crimes committed by others using the platform is both surprising and unfair. He also rejected the portrayal of Telegram as a “lawless paradise” where anything goes, calling that depiction “absolutely untrue.”
Durov explained that if a country has issues with an internet service like Telegram, the usual practice is to take legal action against the service, not its CEO. He criticized French authorities for using outdated laws to charge him personally for what happens on the platform. According to Durov, this sets a dangerous precedent for tech innovators, discouraging them from developing new tools if they could be held personally responsible for the misuse of those tools.
Durov also addressed the claims that Telegram allows harmful content to spread unchecked. He emphasized that Telegram actively removes millions of harmful posts and channels every day, making an effort to monitor and moderate content. He acknowledged, however, that Telegram’s rapid growth to 950 million users has made it easier for criminals to misuse the platform, but promised to improve their content moderation efforts significantly.
Also Read: Judge to Decide on Delaying Trump’s Sentencing Amid Election Concerns
Telegram has come under scrutiny for its handling of extremist and illegal content. Critics argue that the platform’s large groups (up to 200,000 members) make it easier for harmful content to spread, including misinformation, conspiracy theories, and extremist content like neo-Nazi propaganda and terrorism-related materials.
Recently, Telegram faced criticism in the UK for hosting far-right channels that helped organize violent events in English cities. Although Telegram did remove some of these groups, experts say its moderation efforts are still weaker compared to other social media platforms like Facebook or WhatsApp.
Furthermore, the BBC reported that Telegram has refused to join international efforts aimed at detecting and removing child abuse materials online, raising further concerns about its commitment to tackling illegal content.
In his statement, Durov recognized that Telegram is not perfect and that the platform has experienced “growing pains” due to the sharp rise in user numbers. He pointed out that French authorities had several ways to reach out to him and his team, stressing that Telegram even has an official representative within the European Union.
He assured users that Telegram is taking the situation seriously and is committed to improving its efforts in removing harmful content from the platform.
Conclusion
Pavel Durov, who was born in Russia and now lives in Dubai, where Telegram is based, has citizenship in both France and the United Arab Emirates. He founded Telegram in 2013, and the app has since become one of the most popular messaging platforms, especially in Russia, Ukraine, and other former Soviet Union countries. Despite its popularity, the app has faced legal challenges, including a temporary ban in Russia in 2018 after Durov refused to hand over user data to authorities. That ban was reversed in 2021.
While Durov insists that Telegram is doing its best to moderate harmful content, his recent arrest highlights ongoing concerns about the app’s role in enabling illegal activities. The situation remains unresolved as French authorities continue their investigation.
Please like and subscribe news letter to stay updated!
Hurry - Buy this now or Pay More - Get Huge Discounts
JBL Tune Flex – True Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds (Black), Small) – Huge Discount
Buy on Amazon-Pay $49 – 50% Discount
Bose QuietComfort Bluetooth Headphones, Wireless Headphones, Over Ear Noise Cancelling Headphones with Mic, Up To 24 Hours of Battery Life, White Smoke – Discounted Rate
Buy on Amazon – Save $43.00 (72%)
Massage Gun, Muscle Massage Gun for Athletes Handheld Electric Deep Tissue Back Massager, Percussion Massage Device for Pain Relief with 30 Speed Levels 9 Heads
Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen, 2022 release) | With bigger vibrant sound, helpful routines and Alexa | Glacier White
SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (2024) 10.4″ 64GB WiFi Android Tablet, S Pen Included, Gaming Ready, Long Battery Life, Slim Metal Design, Expandable Storage, US Version, Mint, Amazon Exclusive
JBL TUNE 770NC – Adaptive Noise Cancelling with Smart Ambient Wireless Over-Ear Headphones, Bluetooth 5.3, Up to 70H battery life with speed charge, Lightweight, comfortable & foldable design (Blue)
Upgraded 3-in-1 Car Phone Holder Mount [Powerful Suction] Phone Mount for Car Dashboard Air Vent Windshield,for All iPhone Android Phone (Black)
Bluetooth Speaker with HD Sound, Portable Wireless, IPX5 Waterproof, Up to 24H Playtime, TWS Pairing, BT5.3, for Home/Party/Outdoor/Beach, Electronic Gadgets, Birthday Gift (Black)
