Pavel Durov, the founder of the popular messaging app Telegram, was detained by French authorities at Bourget Airport near Paris on Saturday evening. This arrest follows the issuance of an arrest warrant due to allegations surrounding Telegram’s use for illicit activities.
According to CNN and local reports from BFMTV, Durov, a French-Russian billionaire, was taken into custody by officers from France’s anti-fraud office after arriving on a flight from Azerbaijan. The 39-year-old was wanted under a French arrest warrant that alleges his platform has been involved in activities such as money laundering, drug trafficking, and sharing harmful content.
The French authorities issued the arrest warrant on charges including complicity in drug trafficking, crimes against children, and fraud. These charges stem from Telegram’s alleged lack of moderation, which has reportedly facilitated criminal activities on the platform. Durov has faced scrutiny for his failure to cooperate with law enforcement regarding these issues.
Durov, who recently became a naturalized French citizen in August 2021, has not frequently visited France since the arrest warrant was issued. His reluctance to engage with European authorities might have contributed to his prolonged absence from the region.
Telegram, founded by Durov, is known for its strong stance on user privacy and encryption. The platform, boasting over 900 million users, is widely used by Russian speakers and has become a significant source of information on various global events, including the war in Ukraine. However, its use by the Russian military for communication and its involvement in sharing controversial content have drawn international concern.
Before establishing himself in Dubai, Durov left Russia in 2014 after refusing to comply with demands to share VKontakte user data with Russian security services. His subsequent resistance against Russian attempts to block Telegram further highlights his contentious relationship with authorities over privacy and data security.
As Durov faces legal challenges in France, the future of Telegram’s operations and its founder’s legal battles will be closely watched. The outcome of this situation could impact the platform’s policies and its role in global communication.