By Blessing Nweke
Pavel Durov, the Russian-born founder of the messaging app Telegram, was arrested at Paris’s Bourget Airport on Saturday. The arrest comes in connection with allegations against Telegram’s content moderation practices, which reportedly facilitated money laundering, drug trafficking, and the spread of illicit mateCNN affiliated to CNN-affiliate BFMTV.
Durov, who was traveling from Azerbaijan on his private jet, faces scrutiny over Telegram’s failure to adequately moderate its platform. The app, with approximately 900 million users, is known for its robust encryption and minimal oversight, attributes that have made it a controversial tool for both communication and, at times, harmful activities.
The Russian Embassy in Paris has confirmed Durov’s detention and is liaising with his legal team. However, the French prosecutor’s office has yet to respond to requests for further information. Telegram has defended Durov, describing the claims against him as “absurd” and asserting that the platform adheres to EU regulations and industry standards.
The arrest raises significant questions about the extent to which tech company executives should be held responsible for the content distributed on their platforms. “Encrypted communications apps like Telegram are free speech to some and an on-ramp to the dark web to others,” noted Duncan Clark, a technology expert.
Telegram’s approach to minimal content oversight has made it popular in countries with restrictive free speech policies, such as Russia and Iran, and a tool for sharing crucial information during conflicts, including the ongoing war in Ukraine.
European regulators have intensified their scrutiny of tech giants this year, with new laws aimed at curbing disinformation and illegal content. Durov’s arrest underscores the growing tension between free speech advocates and regulatory authorities concerned about online safety and content control.
Prominent figures like Elon Musk and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have criticized the arrest, framing it as a threat to free speech. Durov, who left Russia in 2014 and now resides in Dubai, has previously expressed a preference for operating independently of governmental constraints.
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