Messaging app company Telegram has strongly criticized the arrest of its billionaire owner at an airport in France, stressing that he has “nothing to hide.”
Telegram has condemned as “absurd” the arrest of its CEO Pavel Durov on charges of failing to curb criminal activity on the messaging app.
In a statement published on the app, the company said: “Telegram complies with EU laws, including the Digital Services Act – its moderation is in line with industry standards.”
“Pavel Durov has nothing to hide and travels frequently throughout Europe,” it continued.
“It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner is responsible for the misuse of that platform.”
Pavel Durov is a social media mogul who was arrested on allegations that he failed to curb criminal activity on the messaging app Telegram.
Durov founded the app in 2013 together with his brother Nikolai (stock image)
People walk past paper airplanes with reference to the Telegram logo placed during a rally in support of freedom of speech following the arrest of Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov near the French Embassy in Moscow, Russia, August 25, 2024.
The 39-year-old was arrested on an arrest warrant late Saturday evening shortly after landing on a private jet at Le Bourget airport outside Paris. He is in custody.
The Russian-born, Dubai-based technology magnate is accused of failing to take action to curb drug trafficking, cyberbullying, fraud, organized crime and terrorism.
But this move sparked outrage: Supporters of the Telegram boss – including X owner Elon Musk – called for Mr Durov’s release and demanded the protection of freedom of expression.
Telegram has 950 million users worldwide and the company says it is “committed to protecting users’ privacy and human rights such as freedom of expression and assembly.”
In a recent television interview, Mr Durov, who fled Russia ten years ago, stressed that Telegram is “neutral” and “we apply the rules equally to all sides.” Western governments have often criticized Telegram for a lack of content moderation on the messaging service.
Questions are being asked about why Telegram CEO Pavel Durov (pictured), who was arrested at a French airport last night, would risk travelling knowing he would likely be arrested
Regarding the disputes with governments, he told US broadcaster Tucker Carlson: “Politicians and societies know what to expect from social media platforms and where the red lines are. I don’t necessarily think things will get worse.”
Telegram is an encrypted messaging app that is “safe and free” and is committed to never revealing information about its users or sharing data with third parties.
Telegram is intended to compete with WhatsApp and allows users to have “secret chats” where messages are stored on the device rather than in the cloud. It can also be set to automatically delete messages after a certain period of time.
Telegram’s determination to remain “neutral” and not take sides has brought the app under fire. Terrorists, criminal gangs and extremists use the app as a means of communication.
The site has been criticized over allegations that it was misused by right-wing extremists during recent violent protests across England.
Pavel Durov, founder and CEO of Telegram, delivers his keynote speech on the second day of the Mobile World Congress at the Fira Gran Via complex in Barcelona, Spain, on February 23, 2016.
The founder and CEO of the messaging app Telegram, Pavel Durov, was arrested at a French airport
A Telegram spokesperson told the Mail that “calls for violence are expressly prohibited” and that the app uses artificial intelligence, proactive moderation and “user reports” to remove content that violates its terms.
Mr Musk hashtagged a post “FreePavel” and wrote: “It will be 2030 in Europe and you will be executed for liking a meme.” US politician Robert F. Kennedy Jr. posted on X: “The need to protect free speech has never been more urgent.”
In Moscow, paper airplanes depicting the Telegram logo were placed near the French embassy in protest.
