Pavel Durov, the CEO of the encrypted messaging app Telegram, was reportedly arrested by French authorities on Saturday night. The arrest, which took place at Le Bourget airport near Paris, has raised significant concerns about social media executives' liability regarding the content shared on their platforms.
Durov, born in Russia and holds French citizenship, was detained shortly after landing on a private jet. According to sources cited by Reuters, the operation was led by France's cybersecurity gendarmerie and anti-fraud units. While specific charges have not been publicly detailed, the arrest is believed to be connected to Telegram's lenient content moderation policies and the company's reported reluctance to cooperate fully with law enforcement agencies.
The Russian Embassy in France has requested more information about the arrest. At the same time, Durov's lawyer, Dmitry Agranovsky, dismissed the charges as "absolutely ridiculous" in statements to Russian media. In a statement on Sunday, Telegram defended Durov, stating that he has "nothing to hide and frequently travels in Europe" and called it "absurd to claim that a platform or its owner is responsible for the abuse of that platform."
Telegram is one of the world's largest messaging platforms, boasting approximately 900 million active users. The app's end-to-end encryption makes it nearly impossible for anyone, including the company and law enforcement, to access the content of users' messages. However, this feature has also drawn criticism, as the platform is often accused of enabling cybercriminals, extremists, and the spread of disinformation.
The arrest has provoked a sharp reaction, particularly from conservative commentators and tech industry figures, who warned that this could set a dangerous precedent for other social media executives. Chris Pavlovski, CEO of Rumble, a video platform known for its free speech stance, announced that he had left Europe on Sunday, claiming that France had also "threatened" his company. He expressed solidarity with Durov, stating that they are "currently fighting in the courts of France" and calling for Durov's immediate release. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who recently ended his presidential campaign, also weighed in, stressing the urgent need to protect free speech.
Durov is reportedly expected to appear in court within the next few days as the situation unfolds. His arrest could have significant implications for the ongoing debate over the responsibilities and risks social media platform operators face in managing user-generated content.
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