Telegram founder Pavel Durov arrested in France
Pavel Durov, the founder and administrator of the Telegram messaging app, was arrested on Saturday evening at Le Bourget airport, near Paris.
Telegram founder Pavel Durov arrested in France.
Pavel Durov, the founder and administrator of the Telegram messaging app, was arrested on Saturday evening at Le Bourget airport, near Paris. This arrest shook the tech world and raised a global debate on the responsibilities of digital platforms in managing illegal content. The French judiciary accused Durov of being complicit in the illicit activities that occur on Telegram, an app that has earned a controversial reputation due to its poor content moderation and its policy of not cooperating with law enforcement.
The Telegram messaging app
Telegram is one of the most used messaging apps in the world, with around 950 million users. Of these, around 40 million are located in the European Union, while the rest are distributed across the globe, with a particular concentration in the republics of the former Soviet Union, such as Russia and Ukraine. The app allows you to have private conversations between two people, but it is also known for its groups, which can reach 200.000 participants, and for its channels, which are also used by public institutions in several countries to communicate with citizens.
Who is Pavel Durov
Durov, 39, born in Russia, lives in Dubai, where Telegram is based, and holds dual Emirati and French citizenship. He rose to fame in 2006 when he co-founded VK, the most popular social network in Russia. However, he left Russia in 2014 after refusing to hand over Ukrainian user data to Russian intelligence. This refusal marked the beginning of his distance from Russian politics, but despite this, several Russian politicians and media harshly criticized France for arresting him.
Durov's arrest occurred while he was on board his private jet, returning from Azerbaijan. Russia reacted promptly, with the Russian embassy in Paris requesting a meeting with Durov, complaining about the lack of cooperation from the French government, which denied the request. This reaction highlights the diplomatic tension between Russia and France regarding this matter.
Over the past decade, Telegram has built its popularity on four key pillars: the ability to create and maintain very large groups, anonymous signup (without even having to provide a mobile number), end-to-end encryption that protects communications between sender and recipient, and the company's steadfast resistance to working with governments and law enforcement to remove content. This business philosophy was justified by Durov as a defense of freedom of expression, but it also turned Telegram into a safe haven for illegal activity.
Although the platform's guidelines expressly prohibit content such as illegal pornography and calls for violence, Telegram has become a place where these materials proliferate. The lack of moderation allowed the spread of disinformation campaigns, drug dealing, scams and other illicit activities. This situation attracted the attention of authorities in several countries, who began to consider Telegram not only as a messaging platform, but also as a potential tool for crime.
Durov's arrest marks a turning point in relations between governments and major digital platforms.
Until now, many of these companies have enjoyed relative impunity, protected by the complexity of international law and their global nature. But the arrest of Telegram’s founder could mark the beginning of a new era in which governments are more determined to hold tech company executives accountable for the activities that occur on their platforms.
Durov's case raises important ethical and legal questions regarding the liability of digital platforms. While the protection of privacy and freedom of expression are fundamental values, on the other hand a balance must be found to prevent the abuse of these platforms for criminal purposes. The outcome of this case could have significant implications not only for Telegram, but for the entire tech industry.
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