Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov was arrested in France on Saturday after his private jet landed at Le Bourget Airport, according to French media. The arrest was made under a warrant citing “various violations” related to Telegram, his encrypted messaging service. Durov, who became a French citizen in 2021, is expected to appear in court on Sunday
French authorities have accused Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov
of failing to adequately moderate content on his messaging app. Telegram is reportedly facing criticism in Europe for facilitating the "viral circulation of false information." According to a report by Le Monde, Telegram has resisted complying with state moderation regulations, even as the European Union and the United States push major platforms to remove illegal content.
The Office to Combat Violence Against Minors (OFMIN) in France issued an arrest warrant for Durov as part of an investigation into various offenses, including fraud, drug trafficking, cyberbullying, organized crime, glorification of terrorism, and fraud. A French investigator emphasized the need to address what they perceive as Telegram's "impunity."
In an interview with Tucker Carlson in April, Durov mentioned that the Russian government was the first to demand that he censor speech on his previous platform, VK, to suppress protests in the country. Durov stated, "We were requested to ban these [protest organizing] communities — and I refused," acknowledging that his decision did not sit well with the government.
In 2013, Pavel Durov faced a similar situation when protests erupted in Ukraine. He recounted that VK, his previous platform, was used to organize the protests, and the Russian government demanded the private data of protest organizers. Durov refused, citing a commitment to protect Ukrainian users' privacy. This decision led to tension with the Russian government, ultimately prompting Durov to resign as CEO of VK. He described his choice as between complying with government demands or selling his stake in the company and leaving the country, which he chose to do.
In response to Durov’s recent arrest in France, former Fox News host Tucker Carlson commented on social media, noting the irony that Durov is now facing legal trouble not from Russia, but from a Western country allied with the Biden administration and NATO