Pavel Durov, the Russian-born billionaire and co-founder of Telegram, has been arrested by French police at Le Bourget Airport, north of Paris. The arrest took place on Saturday evening after Durov’s private jet landed.
Durov, who holds both UAE and French citizenship, faces charges related to the app’s alleged failure to address criminal activities, including drug trafficking, child sexual abuse content, and fraud. The investigation focuses on claims that Telegram did not sufficiently moderate its platform or cooperate with law enforcement.
Telegram, which has a significant user base in Russia, Ukraine, and other former Soviet states, was previously banned in Russia in 2018 due to Durov’s refusal to share user data with the government. This ban was lifted in 2021.
The Russian Embassy in France has requested consular access to Durov, citing concerns over the lack of cooperation from French authorities. Russian officials have condemned the arrest as evidence of Western double standards regarding free speech and democracy.
American whistleblower Edward Snowden and X owner Elon Musk have criticized the arrest, calling it an assault on free speech and human rights. Critics argue that Telegram’s moderation policies are weaker compared to other social media platforms, which has led to concerns about the spread of extremist content on the app.
