Paris, France – Telegram’s CEO, Pavel Durov, was arrested by French police at Le Bourget Airport, north of Paris. The 39-year-old billionaire was detained after his private jet landed, according to French media reports.
Officials stated that Durov was arrested under a warrant related to offences concerning the popular messaging app, Telegram. The investigation focuses on the app’s lack of moderators and accusations that Durov failed to take steps to prevent criminal activities on the platform.
Born in Russia, Durov currently resides in Dubai and holds dual citizenship in the United Arab Emirates and France. Telegram, which he founded in 2013, is particularly popular in Russia, Ukraine, and former Soviet Union states. The app was banned in Russia in 2018 after Durov refused to hand over user data, but the ban was reversed in 2021.
Telegram ranks among the major social media platforms, alongside Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, and WeChat. It allows groups of up to 200,000 members, which critics argue makes it easier for misinformation and illegal content to spread.
The Russian Embassy in France has requested consular access to Durov and demanded clarification on the reasons for his detention. They have also called for the protection of his rights and facilitated consular access. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova questioned whether Western human rights NGOs would remain silent on Durov’s arrest, given their previous criticism of Russia’s actions against Telegram in 2018.
Some Russian officials condemned Durov’s arrest, accusing the West of double standards regarding free speech and democracy. Elon Musk, owner of X (formerly Twitter), also commented on the situation, using the hashtag #freepavel and criticizing the moderation policies of social media platforms.
Telegram has faced scrutiny in the UK for hosting far-right channels used to organize violent disorder in English cities earlier this month. Cybersecurity experts have noted that Telegram’s system for moderating extremist and illegal content is weaker than that of other social media companies and messaging apps.
Many will be watching to see how French authorities and the international community respond to Durov’s arrest and the broader implications for digital privacy and free speech.
