Durov, creator of Telegram, expresses bewilderment following his detainment in France, inquiring, "I'm still confused."
In an unexpected turn of events, Pavel Durov, co-founder of the popular messaging app Telegram, was arrested by French authorities on 24 August 2024 at Paris–Le Bourget Airport upon landing from Azerbaijan. The arrest was based on an arrest warrant issued by the French judicial police, alleging 12 criminal offenses linked to Telegram[1][3][5].
The charges specifically focus on Telegram's alleged enabling of criminal conduct such as the distribution of child sex abuse material and other unlawful transactions. On August 28, 2024, Durov appeared before a French prosecutor who formally filed six allegations against him, including providing cryptology services, complicity in illegal acts, and refusing to cooperate with authorities[3][5]. Following this, Durov was released under judicial supervision, required to post bail of five million euros, prohibited from leaving France, and mandated to check in twice weekly at a police station[3][5].
The case is politically significant because Telegram, under Durov’s leadership, has been widely used by various political and activist groups, and is sometimes accused of enabling extremist and criminal networks. The arrest occurred amid ongoing scrutiny of digital platforms in Europe, with the French investigation partly framed as responding to Telegram's role in illicit online activity despite Durov's prior departure from Russia and Telegram’s Dubai headquarters.
Durov claimed that the charges against him are not true, specifically that they accused him of failing to respond to legally binding legal requests. He used a baguette emoji to subtly indicate the unnamed European Union country involved in the request[4]. Telegram, which is audited by a Big Four accounting firm, works with major financial institutions, and routinely allocates millions of dollars each quarter to legal compliance, has been criticized for its minimal content moderation, allowing some criminal and extremist activities[4].
The controversy gained international attention because of speculation (later denied) about a meeting between Durov and Vladimir Putin just before Durov’s arrest, underscoring the complex geopolitical context involving Russia, France, and internet governance[1]. The U.S. State Department criticized the EU's approach to digital service regulation, referencing France’s targeting of platforms like Telegram and Twitter's owner Elon Musk, adding an international dimension to the political fallout[2].
Durov asserted that French authorities failed to follow proper legal channels when attempting to obtain information from him or the Telegram platform. He also suggested that the incident may have been politically motivated and possibly linked to government scrutiny over alleged illicit activity on the messaging app, in an interview with political commentator Tucker Carlson[6]. Carlson stated that French authorities went "out of their way" to humiliate Durov, a claim that Durov concurred with[6].
In contrast to the usual treatment, Durov's case has seen public statements from the prosecutor's office. However, the details of the request made by the unnamed European Union country to censor political content on Telegram are not known[4]. Pavel Durov declined requests from an unnamed European Union country to censor political content on Telegram ahead of Romania's presidential elections, as disclosed by him in May[4].
The case thus highlights an ongoing debate about the responsibilities of encrypted messaging services and their operators in preventing abuse while protecting privacy. It remains to be seen how this legal battle unfolds, but one thing is clear: the future of Telegram and its founder, Pavel Durov, is uncertain in the face of these serious allegations.
References: 1. BBC News 2. The Verge 3. The Guardian 4. The New York Times 5. CNN 6. Fox News
- The arrest of Pavel Durov, co-founder of Telegram, raised questions about the responsibilities of encrypted messaging services in preventing abuse while preserving privacy, a debate that has been ongoing.
- Durov's case brought attention to the role of digital platforms in illicit online activity, as Telegram, under his leadership, has been accused of enabling extremist and criminal networks.
- Following the charges against Durov, concerns were raised about the French authorities' methods and motives, with Durov asserting that they violated proper legal channels and potentially acted politically.
- In a more general context, the case of Pavel Durov and Telegram highlights the complex interplay between security, technology, social-media, politics, general-news, and crime-and-justice, as digital platforms play an increasingly significant role in our society.
