Telegram CEO Pavel Durov Arrested in France Over App’s Content Moderation

[Social Media]

 

Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of the popular messaging app Telegram, has been arrested by French authorities at Le Bourget Airport, located just north of Paris. The 39-year-old tech entrepreneur was detained by French police after his private jet landed at the airport, following a flight from Azerbaijan. The arrest has sparked international attention, particularly due to the high-profile nature of the case and Durov's significant influence in the tech world.

 

French media outlets reported that Durov’s arrest was conducted under a warrant related to alleged offenses connected to his messaging platform, Telegram. According to officials, Durov was apprehended due to ongoing concerns regarding the app's lack of content moderation, which has allegedly allowed it to be used for illicit activities, including money laundering, drug trafficking, and the distribution of pedophilic content. These allegations have put Telegram under intense scrutiny from various governments and regulatory bodies around the world.

 

The arrest was carried out by officers from France’s anti-fraud office, which operates under the jurisdiction of French customs. The operation took place on Saturday evening, immediately after Durov arrived at Le Bourget Airport. French television channel BFMTV provided further details, indicating that the warrant had been issued in France specifically due to the platform's failure to adequately police illegal activities occurring on Telegram.

 

In response to the arrest, Russia's embassy in France has begun taking "immediate steps" to clarify the situation and secure more information about Durov's detention. This was reported by Russia's TASS state news agency, which emphasized the embassy's concern and proactive approach to addressing the matter.

 

Telegram, which was founded by Durov in 2013, has grown to become one of the most popular messaging apps globally, particularly in Russia, Ukraine, and other former Soviet Union states. The platform, known for its strong encryption and privacy features, has often been at the center of controversy due to its perceived leniency towards content that other platforms might moderate or ban.

 

The app's history with the Russian government has been particularly turbulent. In 2018, Telegram was banned in Russia after Durov refused to comply with demands from the Russian authorities to hand over user data. The ban, however, was reversed in 2021, allowing Telegram to continue operating in the country. Despite this, Durov has remained a vocal critic of government censorship and has consistently positioned Telegram as a bastion of free speech, even as it has faced criticism for the way it handles harmful or illegal content.

 

Durov's rise to prominence began even before Telegram, with the founding of VKontakte (VK), a social media platform that became hugely popular in Russia. However, Durov left Russia in 2014 after refusing to comply with government orders to shut down opposition groups on VK. Following this, he sold his stake in VK and shifted his focus entirely to Telegram, which has since risen to rank among the major social media platforms, alongside giants like Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, and WeChat.

 

The arrest of Pavel Durov at Le Bourget Airport marks a significant moment in the ongoing debate over the responsibilities of social media platforms in moderating content and preventing illegal activities. It also highlights the complex relationship between tech entrepreneurs like Durov and the governments that seek to regulate their platforms. As the situation unfolds, the tech world will be watching closely to see how this high-stakes legal battle plays out, and what it might mean for the future of Telegram and similar platforms that prioritize user privacy and freedom of expression.

 

Credit: CNN 2024-08-26

 

 

 

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[BritManToo]

Arrest appears to be more to do with governments censorship and snooping than anything else, resistance is useless.

[gargamon]

Musk better not go to France. X is about as bad as telegram these days for allowing nonsense propaganda onto the platform.

[TedG]

Europe is not exactly keen when it comes to freedom of speech these days. 

[MicroB]

Russian Telegram users are freaking out as Telegram has been used to call in air strikes and arty.

 

 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/aug/25/telegram-app-founder-pavel-durov-to-appear-in-court-after-arrest-in-paris

 

Quote

 

With 950 million active monthly users, Telegram has become a major source of information – and disinformation – about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Durov lives in Dubai, where Telegram is based, and holds citizenship of France and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He recently said he had tried to settle in Berlin, London, Singapore and San Francisco before choosing Dubai, which he praised for its business environment and “neutrality”.

In the UAE, Telegram faces little pressure to moderate its content, while western governments are trying to crack down on hate speech, disinformation, sharing of images of child abuse and other illegal content.

 

 

https://decripto.org/en/arrest-of-pavel-durov-charges-of-terrorism-fraud-and-child-pornography-he-did-not-cooperate-with-the-authorities-he-risks-20-years-in-prison/

 

Quote

 

Durov is accused of numerous serious crimes, including:

Terrorism

Drug trafficking

Complicity in criminal activities

Fraud

Money laundering

Concealment of illegal activities

Distribution of child sexual abuse content

 

 

[stevenl]

1 hour ago, TedG said:

Europe is not exactly keen when it comes to freedom of speech these days. 

Imo he is rightfully detained for allowing criminal activity on his platform free reign.

[rudi49jr]

7 hours ago, TedG said:

Europe is not exactly keen when it comes to freedom of speech these days. 

Nothing to do with free speech. Everything to do with allowing criminal activities on his platform and doing nothing to stop it.

[johng]

The app is supposedly end to end encrypted so how would the CEO or anyone else be able to eavesdrop ( moderate) conversations ?

and  if its not end to end encrypted  and 3 letter agencies can listed in willy nilly  somehow that would be a good thing ?

Of course  you "have nothing to hide"  so its fine "anyone" can surveil you ?   hey sign up for the digital ID and CBDC's  what could possible go wrong

Edited August 26 by johng
spellings

[Chomper Higgot]

If the CEO of a bricks and mortar business were permitting others to engage, within his facilities, in the illegal trades of narcotics drugs, weapons, money laundering and pedophilic material, who then would question the legitimacy of his arrest?

 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

Up next, Russian authorities arrest a bunch of French folk.

[Cameroni]

This is a terrible shock to swinger communities all over the world.

[maesariang]

8 hours ago, TedG said:

Europe is not exactly keen when it comes to freedom of speech these days. 

Fascists run France.

[maesariang]

37 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

If the CEO of a bricks and mortar business were permitting others to engage, within his facilities, in the illegal trades of narcotics drugs, weapons, money laundering and pedophilic material, who then would question the legitimacy of his arrest?

 

 

Weird link. Crooks use cars and phones now. They don't arrest phone and car ceos.

[Chomper Higgot]

9 minutes ago, maesariang said:

Weird link. Crooks use cars and phones now. They don't arrest phone and car ceos.

But they do arrest people who drive crooks too and from criminal endeavors.

 

 

[maesariang]

1 minute ago, Chomper Higgot said:

But they do arrest people who drive crooks too and from criminal endeavors.

 

 

Nothing to do with this ceo. 

[Chomper Higgot]

3 minutes ago, maesariang said:

Nothing to do with this ceo. 

Clearly a juge d'instruction thinks differently.

 

 

[maesariang]

3 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Clearly a juge d'instruction thinks differently.

 

 

Fascism

[CallumWK]

1 hour ago, Chomper Higgot said:

If the CEO of a bricks and mortar business were permitting others to engage, within his facilities, in the illegal trades of narcotics drugs, weapons, money laundering and pedophilic material, who then would question the legitimacy of his arrest?

 

 

 

So why are the CEO's from Line and Facebook not arrested? We have seen several news reports of criminals using those platforms for selling drugs and weapons.

 

40 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Up next, Russian authorities arrest a bunch of French folk.

 

Durov is naturalized and has the French and a middle east identity

[Chomper Higgot]

15 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

 

So why are the CEO's from Line and Facebook not arrested? We have seen several news reports of criminals using those platforms for selling drugs and weapons.

 

 

Durov is naturalized and has the French and a middle east identity

I expect because neither are facilitating criminality  and act to remove it when discovered. 

[Srikcir]

11 hours ago, Social Media said:

French media outlets reported that Durov’s arrest was conducted under a warrant related to alleged offenses connected to his messaging platform, Telegram.

Durov holds French citizenship and arrested in France for violating French laws. He'll be entitled to defend himself in a court of law as to his quilt or innocence. 

The French Consumer Code is very focused on online platforms and public protection. 

France is a sovereign constitutional republic with a parliamentary, representative democracy. The French electorate decides extent of constraints on freedom of speech, not other countries. If guilty Durov will have to make his platform accessible in France to conform to its laws. 

 

[johng]

1 minute ago, Srikcir said:

If guilty Durov will have to make his platform accessible in France to conform to its laws. 

Or just remove it from France  like Rumble did.

[beautifulthailand99]

 

[beautifulthailand99]

33 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

 

So why are the CEO's from Line and Facebook not arrested? We have seen several news reports of criminals using those platforms for selling drugs and weapons.

 

 

Durov is naturalized and has the French and a middle east identity

They allow the NSA backdoor access so they can spy on the users.

[johng]

7 minutes ago, beautifulthailand99 said:

they can spy on the users.

But it's for your own safety and protection..think of the children..

if you don't have anything to hide..........🤢

[MicroB]

5 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

 

So why are the CEO's from Line and Facebook not arrested? We have seen several news reports of criminals using those platforms for selling drugs and weapons.

 

 

Durov is naturalized and has the French and a middle east identity

 

Line no longer exists. It was acquired by Yahoo in 2023. I know Yahoo Japan content is blocked in Europe, so I don't see an issue. Facebook moderates content, even if imperfectly.

 

Russia regards Durov as a Russian citizen, and embassy officials have made contact with him. While Russians can renunciate citizenship, this does not appear to have been done.

 

Of course, the arrest might be a ruse.

 

https://turan.az/en/politics/putin-refused-to-meet-with-pavel-durov-in-baku-78p p3760

 

Durov traveled to Baku from Kazakhstan at the same time Putin met with the Azeri leader. Putin was supposedly there to discuss with the Azeris the conflict with Armenia, and what Russia could do to help (irony)

 

Did Durov meet with Russian government officials traveling with Putin? Durov flew from Baku all the way to Paris, flying distance 3,840kms, not to Dubai, flying distance 1,759kms flying distance.  He doesn't live in France. Why did he fly to France, in his own plane, knowing there was an Arrest Warrant for him? Its said there was a Mistake.  Some say a stop over, maybe for St Kitts-Nevis. He apparently knew he was persona non grata.

 

There was no Interpol notice, just an entry on Fichier des Personnes Recherchées, so he could have flown instead to Switzerland or the UK, if it was a matter of refueling/crew change. He could have probably flown in and out of any other EU country with no issue, and indeed, Telegram have said he was a frequent visitor to Europe. Instead, he was arrested as he disembarked.

 

Of course, if one wanted to be safe from the Russian authorities, a French cell might not seem such a bad place. Dubai is full of Russians.

 

[CallumWK]

2 minutes ago, MicroB said:

Line no longer exists. It was acquired by Yahoo in 2023. I know Yahoo Japan content is blocked in Europe, so I don't see an issue.

 

I'm using Line daily, and so are some of my friends in Europe. So criminal activity is ok to you as long as it isn't in Europe?

 

 

[candide]

3 hours ago, maesariang said:

Fascists run France.

Still trolling, Bignok?

[maesariang]

2 hours ago, MicroB said:

 

Line no longer exists. It was acquired by Yahoo in 2023. I know Yahoo Japan content is blocked in Europe, so I don't see an issue. Facebook moderates content, even if imperfectly.

 

Russia regards Durov as a Russian citizen, and embassy officials have made contact with him. While Russians can renunciate citizenship, this does not appear to have been done.

 

Of course, the arrest might be a ruse.

 

https://turan.az/en/politics/putin-refused-to-meet-with-pavel-durov-in-baku-78p p3760

 

Durov traveled to Baku from Kazakhstan at the same time Putin met with the Azeri leader. Putin was supposedly there to discuss with the Azeris the conflict with Armenia, and what Russia could do to help (irony)

 

Did Durov meet with Russian government officials traveling with Putin? Durov flew from Baku all the way to Paris, flying distance 3,840kms, not to Dubai, flying distance 1,759kms flying distance.  He doesn't live in France. Why did he fly to France, in his own plane, knowing there was an Arrest Warrant for him? Its said there was a Mistake.  Some say a stop over, maybe for St Kitts-Nevis. He apparently knew he was persona non grata.

 

There was no Interpol notice, just an entry on Fichier des Personnes Recherchées, so he could have flown instead to Switzerland or the UK, if it was a matter of refueling/crew change. He could have probably flown in and out of any other EU country with no issue, and indeed, Telegram have said he was a frequent visitor to Europe. Instead, he was arrested as he disembarked.

 

Of course, if one wanted to be safe from the Russian authorities, a French cell might not seem such a bad place. Dubai is full of Russians.

 

70m Thais use Line. You better tell them it does not exist

[MicroB]

10 hours ago, maesariang said:

70m Thais use Line. You better tell them it does not exist

 

You are confusing product with company. I already explained to you about the acquisition by Yahoo, but you patently failed to understand that.

[MicroB]

13 hours ago, CallumWK said:

 

I'm using Line daily, and so are some of my friends in Europe. So criminal activity is ok to you as long as it isn't in Europe?

 

 

No