Arrest of Telegram's Leader Close to Paris
Telegram, famed for purportedly safeguarding user data even of suspected lawbreakers who utilize the platform for illicit activities, is under scrutiny for allegedly falling short in this regard. The company's founder, Pavel Durov, is currently in police custody after his arrest in France.
According to reports, Pavel Durov, a 39-year-old Russian billionaire holding dual citizenship, was apprehended at Le Bourget Airport near Paris on Saturday evening. He was traveling from Azerbaijan and had plans for a dinner in Paris, as per a source close to the investigation. French television channel TF1 reported that Durov was aboard his private jet, and a warrant for his arrest had been issued in France.
Durov under scrutiny
French justice is accusing Durov of insufficient measures to forestall the use of his messaging service for criminal activities and of failing to cooperate with law enforcement agencies. TF1 and BFMTV claim that Durov was wanted in France due to an initial investigation launched against him for purportedly neglecting to act against drug trafficking, fraud, and child exploitation offenses via Telegram. TF1 states that an investigation against Durov might be opened as early as Sunday.
The Durov brothers vow to shield Telegram users' data. However, the platform is criticized for not adequately addressing hate speech and incitement to violence. It's said that both western and Russian authorities have managed to convince Telegram to carry out deletion actions in instances of Islamic terrorist propaganda.
Telegram under fire in Germany
Telegram was founded by Pavel Durov and his brother Nikolai in 2013, who had previously developed the Russian online service Vkontakte, akin to Facebook. Telegram enables end-to-end encrypted secret chats and claims to distinguish itself from US offerings by not sharing user data for commercial purposes. In Germany and other nations, Telegram is criticized as a hub for right-wing extremists and conspiracy theories.
Durov sold Vkontakte due to escalating pressure from Russian authorities and left Russia in 2014. He has since reportedly resided in Berlin, London, Singapore, and San Francisco before settling in Dubai, where Telegram is headquartered.
Moscow voices concerns over Durov's arrest
Russia's representative to international organizations in Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov, accused France of exhibiting dictatorial tendencies. "Certain gullible individuals in the international communications sphere fail to grasp that it's not safe for them to venture into societies headed towards totalitarianism," Ulyanov wrote on the social network X.
Other Russian politicians joined in the criticism. Spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, asked on Telegram whether non-governmental organizations would demand the release of Pavel Durov. "Will they appeal to Paris, or will they remain silent?"
In light of the allegations, French justice is now reviewing the contents of 'The telegram' to assess Durov's compliance with laws against drug trafficking, fraud, and child exploitation. Despite the ongoing investigation, Telegram continues to face scrutiny for its handling of hate speech and incitement to violence within its platform.
