Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of Telegram, was arrested by French police on Saturday at Le Bourget Airport in Paris, according to French media reports. The 39-year-old billionaire was detained in relation to an investigation into the lack of moderators on Telegram, which has been accused of failing to curb criminal uses of the app.
Durov’s lawyer, Dmitry Agranovsky, condemned the detention, stating that it was “absolutely ridiculous” and an attack on freedom of speech. Agranovsky compared the accusations to blaming a car manufacturer for an accident or criminal activity involving its vehicles.
The French authorities have accused Telegram of not cooperating with law enforcement over issues such as drug trafficking, child sexual content, and fraud. The app has been criticized for its lack of moderation, allowing groups of up to 200,000 members, which can facilitate the spread of misinformation and illegal content.
Durov, who holds dual citizenship of the United Arab Emirates and France, has been a vocal advocate for freedom of speech and has previously refused to comply with government demands to hand over user data. Telegram was banned in Russia in 2018 but was reinstated in 2021.
The Russian Embassy in France has expressed concern over Durov’s detention, stating that it is seeking to clarify the reasons for his arrest and ensure his rights are protected. Russian officials have condemned the arrest, citing double standards in the West regarding free speech and democracy.
Elon Musk, owner of X, has also weighed in on the situation, posting about the arrest and using the hashtag #freepavel. Musk criticized the detention, suggesting that it was an attack on freedom of speech.
Telegram has faced scrutiny over its moderation policies, particularly in the UK, where it has been criticized for hosting far-right channels involved in organizing violent disorder. Cybersecurity experts have noted that Telegram’s moderation system is significantly weaker than that of other social media companies and messenger apps.
