Telegram has issued a strong defense of its CEO, Pavel Durov, following his arrest in France over the weekend, declaring that Durov has “nothing to hide.” The messaging app founder was detained at Le Bourget Airport, north of Paris, under a warrant alleging that he failed to curb illegal activities on the platform. According to officials, the accusations center on Telegram’s alleged lack of moderation to prevent criminal use, including drug trafficking, child sexual abuse content, and fraud.
The investigation has ignited a debate over the responsibility of tech platforms to monitor user activities. Telegram has consistently argued that it operates within industry standards, with continuous improvements in moderation. In a statement, the company deemed it “absurd” to hold a platform or its owner accountable for user misconduct, underscoring the scale and complexity of moderating content for nearly a billion users worldwide.
Durov’s arrest comes as authorities ramp up scrutiny on messaging apps, particularly those known for encryption and privacy features. Critics have long accused Telegram of providing a safe haven for extremists, conspiracy theorists, and criminals, due to its large group chat capacities and comparatively lax content moderation. Cybersecurity experts claim that Telegram’s moderation is weaker than that of other platforms like Facebook or WhatsApp, allowing the spread of harmful content.
Despite the allegations, Telegram maintains that it fully complies with European Union laws, including the Digital Services Act (DSA), which aims to ensure accountability and transparency in the digital space. Durov, a 39-year-old Russian-born entrepreneur, is a citizen of both the United Arab Emirates and France, and Telegram itself is headquartered in Dubai. The app enjoys immense popularity across Russia, Ukraine, and the broader post-Soviet region, having been temporarily banned in Russia in 2018 after Durov refused to hand over user data.
The arrest has triggered a political response, particularly from Russian officials, who criticize the treatment of Durov as hypocritical. Russia’s foreign ministry announced it had taken steps to clarify the situation, with the Russian embassy in France seeking consular access to the Telegram CEO. The embassy noted that French authorities had not been cooperative with Russian officials regarding the detention.
In a post on Telegram, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova questioned the silence of Western human rights organizations over Durov’s arrest, especially given past criticism of Russia for impeding Telegram’s operations within its borders.
The platform’s challenges with moderation have also come under scrutiny in the UK, where Telegram was implicated in hosting far-right groups that were involved in recent violent protests. Although Telegram has taken steps to remove certain extremist channels, experts believe its moderation framework remains far less stringent than those of its competitors, leaving gaps for illegal content to proliferate.
As Durov remains in detention, the tech world is closely monitoring the case for its implications on platform governance and the role of CEOs in managing content on digital communication tools. Telegram continues to stand by its founder, emphasizing that the platform is a vital source of communication and information for millions worldwide.
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