Pavel Durov, the CEO and co-founder of Telegram, was arrested by French police on Sunday after landing at Le Bourget Airport, north of Paris. The 39-year-old billionaire, who holds dual citizenship in the United Arab Emirates and France, was detained under a warrant related to allegations of insufficient moderation on the Telegram platform.
French authorities have accused Durov of failing to take adequate steps to prevent the use of Telegram for criminal activities, including drug trafficking, the dissemination of child sexual content, and fraud. Telegram, which Durov founded in 2013, has faced criticism for its lax moderation policies, though the company has previously denied such claims.
Telegram, headquartered in Dubai, is widely used in Russia, Ukraine, and other former Soviet states. The platform, which allows groups of up to 200,000 members, has been scrutinized for enabling the spread of misinformation, as well as extremist and illegal content.
This arrest has sparked a significant backlash from Russian officials and prominent figures, including American whistleblower Edward Snowden, who called it an “assault on basic human rights.” Elon Musk, the owner of social media platform X, also weighed in, using the hashtag #freepavel and criticizing what he sees as Europe’s growing censorship.
The Russian Embassy in France expressed concerns over the arrest and indicated that they are seeking clarification and consular access for Durov. Meanwhile, the French authorities have yet to comment publicly on the ongoing investigation.
