Telegram on Sunday questioned France over the arrest of its CEO Pavel Durov, who was detained at Paris airport over the weekend.
“Telegram complies with EU regulations, including the Digital Services Act – its moderation is within industry standards and continues to improve,” the – The app said Monday on X. It added that Durov, who frequently travels in Europe, “has nothing to hide.”
“It is absurd to claim that the platform or its owner is responsible for the abuses of this platform,” the – the Dubai-based platform said.
Local media reported that authorities arrested Durov at Bourget airport near Paris on Saturday. French authorities reportedly detained the CEO after he arrived from Azerbaijan on a private jet. He is originally from Russia, but holds dual citizenship of France and the United Arab Emirates.
The arrest is related to an investigation into whether moderating Telegram’s content enabled crimes such as terrorism and human trafficking. Durov has not yet been formally charged, but the investigation is focused on Telegram’s moderation practices.
Telegram-linked Toncoin fell 17% after the arrest. The token fell another 1.1% on Monday.
French authorities extend Pavel Durov’s detention
French judicial authorities on Sunday extended Durov’s detention, indicating a serious approach to the charges against him. This extension, which can last up to 96 hours, indicates a detailed investigation into the claims.
The Russian Embassy in Paris has demanded an explanation from French authorities on the reasons for the detention. In addition, they insisted on protecting Durov’s rights and granting consular access.
After his arrest , discussions erupted over the balance between freedom of speech, privacy and content moderation. While some critics say Durov’s arrest for platform content sets a dangerous precedent for Internet freedom, others say it underscores the need for stricter regulation on platforms.
The highly influential encrypted app, with nearly 1 billion users, has a strong influence in Russia, Ukraine and the former Soviet republics.
Durov has refused to cooperate with the Russian government over data
In April, Durov, whose net wealth Forbes estimates at $15.5 billion, mentioned that some governments had tried to influence him. However, he stressed that Telegram should remain a neutral platform and not get involved as a “player in geopolitics.”
In 2014, he left Russia after clashing with the Russian government over the control and censorship of his social networking platform VK (formerly VKontakte). He opposed the government’s demands to remove the content of opposition politicians and hand over user data, which led to his removal from VK and departure from Russia.
Under pressure, Durov came up with the idea for an encrypted messaging app. His younger brother, Nikolai, was responsible for designing the encryption. Durov has not stated publicly whether he has renounced his Russian citizenship.
“I’d rather be free than take orders from anyone,” Durov said in April, referring to his departure from Russia and the search for a base for his company.
