Telegram CEO Pavel Durov Addresses Arrest and Investigations Amid Platform Misuse Concerns
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has broken his silence following his recent arrest in Paris, stating he was “surprised” by the incident and the subsequent interrogation by French authorities. The arrest, which took place at a Paris airport, was part of an ongoing investigation into potential criminal activity facilitated through the messaging platform. Durov was released on bail, set at $5.56 million, as the probe continues.
French prosecutors are investigating allegations that Telegram, a platform with over 950 million users, is being exploited for illegal purposes. While it serves as a communication tool in regions under authoritarian regimes, the app has also gained popularity among extremist groups like white supremacists and Isis. Authorities are also reportedly examining separate allegations of “acts of violence” against Durov’s child in Switzerland.
In his first statement since the arrest, Durov addressed the app’s rapid growth and the challenges it poses for curbing criminal misuse. “The app’s sudden increase in users has made it easier for bad actors to abuse the platform. That’s why I’ve made it a personal goal to significantly improve things in this regard,” Durov said.
He emphasized Telegram’s commitment to user privacy, particularly in countries with authoritarian governments, citing previous decisions to refuse Russian demands for encryption keys and the platform’s ban in Iran after it refused to block protester channels.
Durov also criticized French authorities for holding him personally accountable for third-party actions on the platform. “Using outdated laws to charge a CEO for crimes committed by others on the platform is a misguided approach,” he argued, highlighting the need for modernized regulations in the digital era.
Durov reaffirmed his stance that Telegram is willing to exit markets where privacy principles are compromised, underscoring the company’s priority on user protection over profit.
