Telegram asserts that its CEO Pavel Durov has “nothing to conceal” following his detention in France, stating that the allegations against him are “preposterous”.
The billionaire creator of the encrypted messaging platform was apprehended after his private aircraft touched down at Le Bourget airport located in the suburbs of Paris on Saturday.
News networks BFMTV and TF1 cited anonymous sources indicating that the Russian-born mogul – who acquired French citizenship in 2021 – was the target of a search warrant.
Pic: Reuters
Both sources indicate that the inquiry centered around the insufficient moderation on Telegram and possible illicit activities by its users.
Reports suggest the warrant claims that his platform has been implicated in money laundering, drug trafficking, and other criminal acts, although French officials have not yet provided commentary.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Telegram remarked: “Telegram complies with EU regulations, including the Digital Services Act – its moderation practices meet industry standards and are undergoing continuous enhancement.
“Telegram’s CEO Pavel Durov has nothing to conceal and often travels across Europe.
“It is outrageous to assert that a platform or its owner bears responsibility for misuse of that platform.”
Read further:
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Telegram ranks among the most downloaded applications globally, boasting nearly one billion users.
Paper planes, reflecting the logo of the Telegram messaging app, have been displayed in Moscow as a show of support for Durov after his arrest. Pic: Reuters/Yulia Morozova
The application features end-to-end encryption, effectively safeguarding information from interception, and emphasizes privacy.
However, these functionalities have rendered it a favored environment for unlawful activities, and the app was recently misused by far-right extremists who instigated riots in the UK regarding the Southport stabbings.
Mr. Durov, 39, departed Russia in 2014 after losing control of his former social network Vkontakte (VK).
Pavel Durov being honored as an icon during a protest against internet censorship in Moscow in 2019. Pic: AP
He resisted government pressure to suppress opposition groups on the platform and refused to provide data on protesting Ukrainians to security agencies.
He relocated to Dubai in 2017 and acquired French citizenship in August 2021.
The Russian embassy in France has requested consular access to Mr. Durov and asserted the need for his rights to be protected, as reported by the Russian state news agency TASS.
France has thus far “refrained from involvement” regarding Durov’s situation, and Russian diplomats are communicating with his legal representative, as indicated by the embassy.
