- Durov was detained Saturday at Le Bourget airport in a judicial investigation that began last month into 12 alleged criminal offences, the Paris prosecutor’s office said Monday.
- The arrest in France of Pavel Durov, the chief executive of the popular messaging app Telegram, was not a political move but part of an independent investigation, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday.
OUR TAKE
In a statement posted on its platform after the arrest, Telegram said it complies with EU law and that its audits meet industry standards and are constantly improving. But in any case, social media should not be used for propaganda for political purposes, not to mention that Telegram’s role as a popular news source for the Russia-Ukraine conflict is an indisputable fact. This should be promptly controlled by the government to ensure a safe and stable online environment.
— Iydia Ding, BTW reporter
What happened
Durov was detained at Le Bourget airport on Saturday, the Paris prosecutor’s office said on Monday, in a judicial investigation that began last month and involves 12 alleged criminal offences. In France’s first public comment on the arrest, Macron posted on social media platform X that his country was “firmly committed” to freedom of expression but “to protecting citizens and respecting their fundamental rights, in social media and in real life, and to defending freedoms within the framework of the law”. The prosecutor’s office said Durov’s detention was extended until Monday night and could be extended until Wednesday night, after which authorities would have to release or charge him.
Russian government officials have expressed outrage at his detention, which some have called politically motivated and proof of the West’s double standards when it comes to freedom of expression. Macron denounced what he called disinformation and said the arrest was in no way a political decision. Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of X, who has in the past described himself as a “free speech absolutist,” posted in support of Durov after his arrest.
Also read: Telegram founder Durov arrested in France
Also read: How Telegram’s TON ecosystey revolutionised crypto adoption
Why it’s important
The Russian embassy in Paris said consular officials were denied access to Durov because French authorities view his French citizenship as his primary identity. Western governments have often criticised Telegram for its lack of content vetting, which experts say opens up the messaging platform to possible use for money laundering, drug trafficking and the sharing of material related to the sexual exploitation of minors. “It is absurd to claim that the platform or its owner is responsible for the abuse of the platform.” Telegram’s post said, adding that “nearly 1 billion users worldwide use Telegram as a means of communication and a vital source of information.”
In a statement posted on its platform after the arrest, Telegram said it complies with European Union law and that its audits meet industry standards and are constantly improving. But in any case, social media should not be used for propaganda for political purposes, not to mention that Telegram’s role as a popular source of news about the Russia-Ukraine conflict is indisputable. Governments should ensure the security and stability of the online environment in a fair and impartial manner, excluding the political aims of countries.
