Pavel Durov’s Detention
Pavel Durov, CEO of Telegram, has been detained in France on allegations that the messaging app failed to adequately combat crime, including the spread of child sexual abuse material. The 39-year-old Russian-born billionaire was apprehended on Saturday at Le Bourget airport near Paris after arriving on a private jet. The detention, initially set for 24 hours, has been extended up to 96 hours as the investigation continues, according to Agence France Presse.
The French agency OFMIN, established to prevent violence against minors, issued the arrest warrant. Jean-Michel Bernigaud, OFMIN’s secretary general, criticized Telegram for its perceived lack of moderation and cooperation in addressing child exploitation crimes.
Broader Allegations and Company Response
In addition to allegations related to child protection, Pavel Durov could face accusations of facilitating drug trafficking and promoting terrorism on Telegram. The company, based in Dubai, has defended Durov, asserting that Telegram complies with European laws and that it is unjust to hold the platform or its owner responsible for misuse by individuals.
Telegram, which Durov co-founded with his brother Nikolai, is a major global messaging service with nearly 1 billion users. The platform’s lenient approach to content moderation has drawn scrutiny for its potential use in criminal activities and extremist material distribution.
Before creating Telegram, the Durov brothers founded VKontakte in 2006, which quickly gained popularity in Russia. Pavel Durov’s fortune, estimated at over $9 billion by Bloomberg, led to conflicts with the Kremlin, prompting his departure from Russia in 2014.
Pavel Durov, who resides in Dubai and holds French and UAE citizenship, has not publicly addressed his Russian citizenship status. The Russian embassy in Paris has sought clarification from French authorities and requested consular access for Durov. French President Emmanuel Macron has emphasized that the arrest is a judicial matter, with the legal system determining the outcome.
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