- Telegram's Creator Detained: Platform Responds to Allegations
Telegram's creator, Pavel Durov, stays in French police custody, allegations claim
As per media reports, the creator of the messaging service Telegram, Pavel Durov, remains in police custody in France. Multiple French media outlets reported collectively, quoting law enforcement sources, that Durov's police detention was extended on Sunday evening. Telegram, in turn, is defending itself against the accusations.
In a statement, the company affirmed its compliance with all relevant rules, including the new Digital Services Act (DSA), designed to more efficiently combat illegal content and activities on large online platforms. Durov, they assert, has nothing to hide and frequently travels around Europe. It's "preposterous," they argue, to hold a platform or its owner responsible for the misuse of the service by third parties.
Telegram has historically faced accusations of not doing enough to curb hate speech and other unlawful activities. The company maintains that it adheres to industry standards.
Facing serious charges
However, the French judicial system may have a different perspective. Reports suggest that preliminary investigations against Durov have been underway for some time. The allegation is that he aided and abetted drug trafficking, fraud, and various child abuse-related offenses by failing to act on Telegram and insufficiently cooperating with authorities.
Durov was then suddenly arrested on Saturday evening at Le Bourget Airport near Paris, as reported by TF1 and BFMTV, among other French media outlets, citing law enforcement sources. The reason for his travel from Azerbaijan to France, where he was wanted, remained uncertain initially. The Paris prosecutor's office initially refrained from commenting on the case.
The Russian embassy in France has taken up the matter, according to a statement by the state-owned Russian news agency TASS. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called on the French authorities to grant consular access to Durov. "The issue is that Durov also holds French citizenship," she said. "Therefore, France will primarily view him as its citizen." Durov's relationship with the Russian authorities is well-known to be strained.
Durov established Telegram alongside his brother Nikolai after they had already launched the network Vk.com, a kind of Russian-language Facebook. Telegram is one of the most significant online networks in Russia and is also used by many officials and politicians for communication. The service is used by both sides for communication during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
In response to the allegations, Telegram has declared its adherence to the Digital Services Act and asserted Durov's innocence, stating that he frequently travels around Europe. Despite this, preliminary investigations against Durov for aiding and abettling criminal activities on Telegram have been ongoing in France.
The Internet platform Telegram has become a center of attention, with the creator, Pavel Durov, currently in French police custody, facing serious charges related to drug trafficking, fraud, and child abuse-related offenses.
