Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of the messaging app Telegram, was arrested in Paris over the weekend amid allegations that his platform is being utilized for illicit activities such as drug trafficking and the distribution of child sexual abuse material.
Durov, originally from Russia, has substantial ties to several countries including Italy, France, the Caribbean, and the United Arab Emirates. He was taken into custody at Paris-Le Bourget Airport on Saturday after arriving from Azerbaijan.
Telegram has issued a statement asserting its commitment to EU laws and emphasizing that its content moderation practices are consistently improving. The company also emphasized that Durov “has nothing to hide and travels frequently in Europe.”
Telegram allows users to engage in one-on-one conversations, group chats, and broadcast large messages through “channels.” Notably, Telegram’s group chats can accommodate up to 200,000 participants, significantly more than competitors like WhatsApp, which limits group sizes to 1,024. Experts have raised concerns about the potential for misinformation to spread rapidly in such large groups.
While Telegram offers users the option for encrypted communications, it is not enabled by default, requiring users to activate the feature manually. This is a contrast to other messaging platforms like Signal and Facebook Messenger, which provide end-to-end encryption by default.
With over 950 million active users, Telegram has gained considerable popularity in France, where it is also utilized by some government officials. However, investigations have revealed the platform’s use by individuals associated with extremist groups and drug traffickers.
Launched in 2013 by Durov and his brother Nikolai, Telegram has continued to evolve and expand its user base. Durov, who previously founded VKontakte, Russia’s largest social network, left the platform after facing government pressure following pro-democracy protests in Russia.
Reports indicate that Durov’s arrest stems from an alleged warrant related to money laundering, drug trafficking, and other offenses. As of now, he has not been formally charged and the investigation remains ongoing. A French investigative judge has extended Durov’s detention, allowing him to be held for questioning for up to four days, after which authorities must decide whether to charge him or release him.
Responses from the Kremlin have been cautious, with officials suggesting that the situation might be politically motivated. Some Russian officials have expressed outrage, claiming it highlights the West’s perceived hypocrisy regarding free speech.
In the wake of Durov’s arrest, critics have pointed to Telegram’s controversial history regarding content moderation, raising alarms about its vulnerability to misuse for illegal activities, including money laundering and the exploitation of minors.
Experts have indicated that compared to other messaging applications, Telegram is viewed as being less secure and more lenient in detecting illegal content. Furthermore, research indicates that Telegram has been largely nonresponsive to law enforcement inquiries, unlike other platforms that actively report illegal activity.
May 2022 saw Germany impose a fine on Telegram operators for failing to comply with local laws requiring proper reporting procedures for illegal content. Additionally, Brazil temporarily suspended the app due to its refusal to provide data related to investigations into neo-Nazi activities.
In response to the current legal challenges, Telegram reiterated its compliance with EU regulations and assured users of its commitment to improving content moderation standards.
