Pavel Durov was the CEO and founder of Telegram, a messaging application, when he was arrested at Bourget Airport outside Paris. He faces a number of serious accusations, such as fraud, drugs trafficking, cyberbullying and organized crime.
Ofmin, a French agency devoted to the prevention of violence towards minors, made an arrest as part of its investigation.
Durov, a Franco Russian billionaire who was traveling on his own private jet from Azerbaijan, was detained in France by French authorities.
A warrant of arrest issued by France targets Durov over allegations that Telegram’s messaging service, which he runs, allowed illegal activities to spread unchecked because it was not moderated enough.
The charges brought against Pavel Durov
Durov faces serious charges that suggest criminal activity facilitated by Telegram.
According to French media outlets TF1 TV BFM TV the investigation centers around Telegram’s insufficient content moderation. Law enforcement officials are of the opinion that this has led to widespread criminal activities on Telegram.
Cyberbullying, fraud and other serious crimes such as drug trafficking or organized crime are included.
Unidentified investigators speaking with AFP expressed their surprise at Durov’s entry to France despite his arrest warrant.
The investigator said, “Telegram is not immune from being held accountable for its role.” This underscored the frustration growing among French officials over Telegram’s involvement in the facilitation of harmful activities.
Russian diplomatic response
The Russian Embassy in France, in response to Durov’s arrest has requested consular access for the tech entrepreneur. They have also insisted on his full legal rights being respected.
The Russian news agency TASS stated that the embassy had accused French officials of avoiding involvement in the situation and raising tensions between both nations.
Mikhail Ulyanov – the Russian representative at international organisations in Vienna – criticized France for its actions and compared them with those of “a totalitarian society.”
Ulyanov’s remarks reflect the wider geopolitical implications that Durov’s arrest has, considering Telegram’s important role in the current Russia-Ukraine war.
Telegrams have global importance
Durov, along with his brother, created Telegram in Russia in 2013. The app has nearly one billion active users around the world.
Its strong encryption capabilities have quickly made the app a popular platform for secure communications.
This feature is also causing governments to scrutinize the app, as they are concerned that it could be used to commit illegal acts.
Durov left Russia in 2014, after refusing the government’s demands that state security services be allowed access to Telegram encrypted messages.
Telegram is now a key tool for both the Russian and Ukrainian governments in their war against each other. This includes President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Analysts have described the app as a virtual battlefield, where graphic and unfiltered content is shared by both sides.
Durov’s arrest by the French authorities comes at a time when there are growing concerns about Telegram data security in Europe.
The app has been scrutinized by several European countries including France due to its popularity, and potential dangers associated with it.
Elon Musk condemns arrest
Durov’s detention has provoked reactions in various circles. Russian bloggers are calling for demonstrations to be held outside French embassies around the world, reflecting growing discontent over this incident.
Elon Musk, the tech mogul, also spoke out, criticizing this arrest with a tweet which read: “It is 2030 in Europe and you are being executed because of liking a meme.” This highlighted concerns over freedom of speech and government’s potential for abuse.
Durov has legal problems that extend far beyond France. He is also under pressure in Russia because he refused to give the Kremlin Telegram encryption keys.
In 2018, Russia blocked Telegram due to this defiance, but the ban has since been lifted.
Analysts suggest that Durov’s recent trip to Azerbaijan where Russian President Vladimir Putin also attended, could have been a lobbying attempt for the lifting restrictions on Telegram within Russia.
Telegram is yet to issue an official statement regarding Durov’s detention, while the French Interior Ministry and Police have refused to make any comments.
Durov could face indictment by French authorities, and this would have huge implications for Telegram’s role as a global communication platform.
The post Telegram CEO Pavel Durov Arrested in France for charges related to messaging application may be updated as new information becomes available
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