Telegram asserts compliance with all European Union regulations as CEO Durov's detention is prolonged following his arrest in France

Aug. 26, 2024, 8:01 a.m.

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Telegram, the widely used messaging platform, has questioned the legitimacy of its CEO, Pavel Durov's detention, who was apprehended at Le Bourget airport in Paris over the weekend. Durov, aged 39, was taken into custody on suspicion of failing to prevent the unlawful use of Telegram, as reported by Agence France-Presse (AFP).

The initial detention period was extended by 24 hours on Sunday, as confirmed by a judicial official.

Advertisement In response to the arrest, Telegram released a statement on both its platform and X (formerly known as Twitter), affirming that the company fully adheres to European legislation, including the Digital Services Act.

The company stressed that Durov has “nothing to conceal” and denounced the arrest as unfounded, stating, “It is unreasonable to assert that a platform or its owner is responsible for the misuse of that platform.” Telegram also expressed optimism for a swift resolution to the situation.

Pavel Durov, who currently resides in Dubai and holds citizenship in both France and the United Arab Emirates, was apprehended based on an arrest warrant issued by OFMIN, a French agency dedicated to combating violence against minors.

According to AFP, OFMIN is conducting an initial investigation into various alleged criminal activities, including fraud, drug trafficking, cyberbullying, organized crime, and the promotion of terrorism.

In response to Durov’s detention, the Russian embassy in Paris requested an explanation from French authorities and demanded the protection of Durov’s rights, including consular access. The embassy stated that it is in contact with Durov’s lawyer to ensure his legal rights are upheld.

Durov's arrest has had a noticeable impact on Toncoin, a cryptocurrency associated with Telegram, which reportedly experienced a decline of up to 23 per cent following the news of his detention.

Telegram, co-founded by Pavel Durov and his brother Nikolai, has evolved into one of the most popular messaging applications globally, with an estimated 900 million active users. However, its approach to content moderation has attracted criticism, with allegations that the platform is often utilized for criminal activities and the dissemination of extremist content.

The Durov brothers first rose to prominence in the tech sector through their creation of VKontakte, a Russian social networking platform launched in 2006. VKontakte quickly gained immense popularity in Russia but also attracted unwanted attention from individuals connected to the Kremlin. In 2014, Pavel Durov left Russia and sold his stake in VKontakte, ultimately accumulating a net worth exceeding $9 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

In an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson in April, Durov discussed the obstacles he encountered from Russian authorities while managing VKontakte and the ongoing scrutiny of Telegram by law enforcement agencies globally. He emphasized his desire for freedom and autonomy, stating, “I prefer to be free, I wouldn’t want to be beholden to anyone.”

As the situation unfolds, Pavel Durov's extended detention has garnered significant attention, prompting broader discussions regarding the responsibilities of tech platforms in preventing criminal activities and the implications of such responsibilities on global freedom of communication.