Telegram CEO Pavel Durov’s Detention in France Raises Questions
Over the weekend, the CEO of messaging app Telegram, Pavel Durov, was detained at a Paris airport on suspicion of failing to prevent criminal use of the platform. The grounds for his detention have been questioned by Telegram, with the company stating that they abide by European laws and that Durov has nothing to hide.
Durov, who is 39 years old, lives in Dubai and holds citizenship in both France and the United Arab Emirates. The Russian embassy in Paris has requested an explanation from French authorities regarding the reasons for Durov’s detention and has demanded that his rights be protected and consular access be provided.
The detention of Durov has caused a stir in the cryptocurrency market, as the value of Toncoin, a cryptocurrency linked to Telegram, dropped significantly upon news of his custody. Telegram, created by Durov and his brother Nikolai, boasts around 900 million active users and is known for its light-touch approach to content moderation.
The Durov brothers made their fortune from VKontakte, a social network they founded in Russia in 2006. Pavel Durov faced pressure from Russian authorities while running VKontakte, eventually leading him to flee the country in 2014 and sell his stake in the platform. He now has a net worth of over $9 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
In an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, Durov discussed the challenges he faced from Russian authorities and the scrutiny Telegram has faced from law enforcement agencies worldwide. He emphasized his desire for freedom and independence, stating that he would not want to take orders from anyone.
The detention of Pavel Durov in France has sparked concerns about the responsibilities of platform owners in preventing criminal activity and the balance between freedom of speech and regulation. As the situation unfolds, many are watching closely to see how it will impact both Telegram and Durov himself.