- Pavel Durov, Telegram’s CEO, was arrested on August 25 at Paris–Le Bourget Airport and indicted for illegal activities on the platform.
- Durov criticized the French authorities' approach, stating that holding a CEO criminally responsible for third-party abuses is flawed.
Pavel Durov, founder and CEO of Telegram, has pledged to “significantly improve” moderation of criminal activity on the platform following his arrest on August 25 at Paris–Le Bourget Airport.
Durov was indicted by French authorities for Telegram’s alleged use in illegal activities, including drug trafficking, organized fraud, and child pornography distribution. Officials criticized Telegram for insufficient action against criminal content and unresponsiveness to inquiries.
In a public statement on his Telegram channel, Durov expressed surprise at the French authorities' actions, asserting that reaching his company was straightforward.
“I was told I may be personally responsible for other people’s illegal use of Telegram, because the French authorities didn’t receive responses from Telegram,” he stated.
He emphasized that Telegram has an official EU representative and multiple contact avenues, including the French consulate in Dubai.
Durov rejected claims that Telegram is a haven for criminals, stating, “The claims in some media that Telegram is some sort of anarchic paradise are absolutely untrue.”
He acknowledged the challenges posed by Telegram’s rapid user growth to its moderation efforts, committing to improve the platform’s handling of harmful content.
Durov also defended Telegram’s stance on regulatory conflicts, highlighting past refusals to comply with demands from Russia and Iran, resulting in bans.
“We are prepared to leave markets that aren’t compatible with our principles, because we are not doing this for money,” he said.
Criticizing the French approach, Durov argued that holding a CEO criminally liable for third-party abuses is a flawed approach. He remains under judicial supervision in France while the investigation continues.
Edited by Harshajit Sarmah
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Harshajit Sarmah
