Telegram has issued a statement defending its founder, Pavel Durov, following his arrest in Paris, asserting that he has nothing to hide and that holding a platform owner responsible for misuse of the service is unreasonable.
Durov, a 39-year-old billionaire, was detained at Le Bourget Airport near Paris after arriving on a private jet from Azerbaijan late Saturday.
His arrest led Moscow to warn Paris to ensure his rights are respected, while Elon Musk, owner of X, criticized the arrest, arguing it threatens free speech in Europe.
In a brief statement released after midnight Paris time, Telegram did not provide specifics on the arrest but emphasized that the Dubai-based company adheres to European Union laws and continuously improves its moderation standards.
His arrest led Moscow to warn Paris to ensure his rights are respected, while Elon Musk, owner of X, criticized the arrest, arguing it threatens free speech in Europe.
In a brief statement released after midnight Paris time, Telegram did not provide specifics on the arrest but emphasized that the Dubai-based company adheres to European Union laws and continuously improves its moderation standards.
“Telegram’s CEO, Pavel Durov, has nothing to hide and frequently travels within Europe,” the company stated. “The notion that a platform or its owner can be held accountable for abuse of that platform is absurd.”
“We anticipate a swift resolution of this matter. Telegram stands with you all,” the statement concluded.
Durov, who holds dual citizenship in France and the United Arab Emirates, was arrested in connection with a preliminary investigation into accusations that Telegram has allowed various crimes to occur due to inadequate moderation and a lack of cooperation with law enforcement, according to a French police source.
The investigation is being led by a cybersecurity gendarmerie unit and France's national anti-fraud police, under an investigative judge specializing in organized crime.
Some commentators have suggested Durov’s arrest may be linked to a controversy over leaked Israeli files.
Hackers stole vast amounts of sensitive Israeli data and released gigabytes of secret and classified information, Haaretz reported last Thursday.
The incident occurred a few months ago, when foreign hackers infiltrated a computer connected to Israel's Justice Ministry.
Tens of thousands of classified files and sensitive emails were leaked, with hackers posting links on Telegram, enabling anyone to download the files.
The Russian-French business executive founded Telegram after leaving Russia in 2014, having refused to comply with demands to shut down opposition communities on his VK social media platform, which he later sold.
The encrypted app is especially influential in Russia, Ukraine, and other former Soviet republics. It is considered one of the leading social media platforms alongside Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, and WeChat.
The app has nearly 1 billion users, and, its increasing popularity is widely deemed to owe much to its commitment to free speech and lack of censorship in comparison to its rivals.
Born in Soviet Leningrad and a graduate of St. Petersburg State University, Durov identifies as a libertarian and cites Apple Co-Founder Steve Jobs as an inspiration.
With a fortune estimated by Forbes at $15.5 billion, Durov revealed in April that some governments have tried to pressure him, but he insists the app should remain a neutral platform, not a “player in geopolitics.”
Durov’s arrest, which made headlines in Russia, comes as he continues to defend his stance against government pressure.
“I would rather be free than take orders from anyone,” Durov said in April, reflecting on his decision to leave Russia and seek a new base for his company, which has included stints in Berlin, London, Singapore, and San Francisco.
Russian lawmaker Maria Butina, who served 15 months in a U.S. prison for acting as an unregistered Russian agent, described Durov as a “political prisoner” and a victim of a Western “witch-hunt.”
“We anticipate a swift resolution of this matter. Telegram stands with you all,” the statement concluded.
Durov, who holds dual citizenship in France and the United Arab Emirates, was arrested in connection with a preliminary investigation into accusations that Telegram has allowed various crimes to occur due to inadequate moderation and a lack of cooperation with law enforcement, according to a French police source.
The investigation is being led by a cybersecurity gendarmerie unit and France's national anti-fraud police, under an investigative judge specializing in organized crime.
Hacking of Israeli data
Some commentators have suggested Durov’s arrest may be linked to a controversy over leaked Israeli files.
Hackers stole vast amounts of sensitive Israeli data and released gigabytes of secret and classified information, Haaretz reported last Thursday.
The incident occurred a few months ago, when foreign hackers infiltrated a computer connected to Israel's Justice Ministry.
Tens of thousands of classified files and sensitive emails were leaked, with hackers posting links on Telegram, enabling anyone to download the files.
Durov’s background
The Russian-French business executive founded Telegram after leaving Russia in 2014, having refused to comply with demands to shut down opposition communities on his VK social media platform, which he later sold.
The encrypted app is especially influential in Russia, Ukraine, and other former Soviet republics. It is considered one of the leading social media platforms alongside Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, and WeChat.
The app has nearly 1 billion users, and, its increasing popularity is widely deemed to owe much to its commitment to free speech and lack of censorship in comparison to its rivals.
Born in Soviet Leningrad and a graduate of St. Petersburg State University, Durov identifies as a libertarian and cites Apple Co-Founder Steve Jobs as an inspiration.
With a fortune estimated by Forbes at $15.5 billion, Durov revealed in April that some governments have tried to pressure him, but he insists the app should remain a neutral platform, not a “player in geopolitics.”
Durov’s arrest, which made headlines in Russia, comes as he continues to defend his stance against government pressure.
“I would rather be free than take orders from anyone,” Durov said in April, reflecting on his decision to leave Russia and seek a new base for his company, which has included stints in Berlin, London, Singapore, and San Francisco.
Russian lawmaker Maria Butina, who served 15 months in a U.S. prison for acting as an unregistered Russian agent, described Durov as a “political prisoner” and a victim of a Western “witch-hunt.”
Source: Reuters, Haaretz
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