Pavel Durov, the CEO of Telegram, criticizes French authorities for detaining him personally rather than pursuing legal action against the platform over allegations of illegal activity.
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| The CEO of Telegram has criticized French authorities for their decision to detain him personally rather than pursuing legal action against the platform over allegations of illegal activity. Symbolic Image |
Paris, France – September 6, 2024:
Pavel Durov, the CEO of messaging app Telegram, has publicly defended himself against his arrest by French authorities last month. In a lengthy post on his Telegram channel, Durov expressed surprise at the decision to detain him personally rather than pursuing legal action against the platform itself.
Durov argued that French authorities could have contacted Telegram directly to address concerns regarding illegal activity on the platform. He pointed out that Telegram has an official representative in the European Union and has cooperated with authorities in the past, including establishing a hotline to address terrorism threats.
The Russian-born entrepreneur was arrested in August and subsequently charged with being complicit in the distribution of child sexual abuse material and drug trafficking on Telegram. Despite being released from custody, Durov remains under house arrest in France.
In his statement, Durov criticized the French authorities' approach, arguing that charging a CEO for crimes committed by third parties on the platform he manages is misguided. He emphasized the challenges of building and managing a large-scale messaging platform while balancing privacy and security concerns.
While acknowledging that Telegram has faced criticism for allowing illegal activity to proliferate, Durov insisted that the platform is not an "anarchic paradise." He attributed the increase in criminal activity to the rapid growth of Telegram's user base and highlighted the steps the company has taken to improve moderation efforts.
The arrest of Pavel Durov has sparked debate about the role of technology companies in combating illegal activity and the balance between privacy and security. As the legal proceedings continue, it remains to be seen how the French authorities will respond to Durov's defense and whether further action will be taken against Telegram.