Pavel Durov, the CEO of the popular messaging app Telegram, is facing a potential legal battle in France. He was detained at Le Bourget airport outside Paris on Saturday, following a judicial inquiry launched last month. The investigation centers around 12 alleged criminal violations, including accusations that Telegram is being used as a platform for selling child sexual abuse material and drug trafficking, as well as fraud, aiding organized crime transactions, and Telegram’s refusal to comply with legal requests for information from investigators.
Under French law, Durov could be held in custody for up to 96 hours after his arrest. While his initial detention order was extended for 48 hours on Monday evening, authorities are now expected to either charge him or release him.
Durov’s arrest has sparked a wave of controversy, particularly in Russia, where some government officials view it as a politically motivated move, highlighting what they perceive as a double standard from the West regarding freedom of speech. This outcry has raised eyebrows among Kremlin critics, given that Russian authorities themselves tried and failed to block Telegram in 2018, eventually withdrawing the ban in 2020.
The situation has also drawn attention in Iran, where Telegram is widely used despite being officially banned. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country’s supreme leader, issued veiled praise for France’s strict stance against those who “violate your governance” of the internet.
However, French President Emmanuel Macron has denied any political motivations behind Durov’s arrest, asserting that it’s part of an independent investigation. Macron stated on X (formerly Twitter) that France is committed to freedom of expression but that these freedoms must operate within a legal framework to protect citizens and their fundamental rights.
In a statement released after Durov’s arrest, Telegram claimed it adheres to EU laws and that its content moderation practices are “within industry standards and constantly improving.” The company argued that holding a platform or its owner responsible for abuse of the platform is absurd, pointing out that Telegram is used by nearly a billion people worldwide for communication and access to vital information.
Durov, a citizen of Russia, France, the United Arab Emirates, and the Caribbean island nation of St. Kitts and Nevis, has received support from multiple governments. The UAE Foreign Ministry has requested France to provide Durov with necessary consular services, while Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed hope that Durov has access to legal representation and confirmed that Moscow is ready to provide assistance.
Telegram, founded by Durov and his brother, has a history of tension with authorities. Durov previously faced pressure from the Russian government in 2013 when he sold his stake in VKontakte, a popular Russian social networking site he launched in 2006. The Russian government’s crackdown following pro-democracy protests led to demands to remove online communities of opposition activists and user data from VKontakte. Durov, who had refused these demands, eventually left Russia.
Telegram’s pro-privacy stance resonated with Russians seeking alternative communication platforms, particularly during the 2013-2014 Ukrainian uprising. The app has also become a crucial source of news and information in Ukraine during the ongoing war.
Western governments have frequently criticized Telegram for its lack of content moderation, which experts argue creates vulnerabilities for money laundering, drug trafficking, and the spread of child exploitation material. In 2022, Germany imposed fines of $5 million on Telegram for failing to establish proper mechanisms for reporting illegal content and identifying a designated entity in Germany for official communication, both requirements under German law for large online platforms.
