Telegram CEO Pavel Durov Arrested by French Police at Paris Airport

Pavel Durov, the chief executive of Telegram, was arrested by French police upon his arrival at Le Bourget Airport, just north of Paris. The 39-year-old billionaire was detained after his private jet landed, according to reports from French media.

Authorities have indicated that Durov was apprehended under a warrant related to his role in the popular messaging app, Telegram.

The investigation centers on allegations that the app lacks sufficient moderation, with Durov accused of failing to implement measures to prevent criminal activities on the platform.

Durov, originally from Russia, currently resides in Dubai and holds dual citizenship in both the United Arab Emirates and France. Telegram enjoys significant popularity in Russia, Ukraine, and other former Soviet states.

However, the app faced a ban in Russia in 2018 after Durov refused to comply with government demands to share user data. The ban was eventually lifted in 2021.

Telegram is now recognized as one of the leading social media platforms worldwide, ranking alongside giants like Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, and WeChat.

Durov founded Telegram in 2013, and in 2014, he left Russia after refusing to shut down opposition groups on VKontakte, the social media platform he had previously created and later sold.

The arrest has sparked significant backlash from Russian officials. Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova questioned whether Western human rights organizations would remain silent on Durov’s arrest, drawing parallels to the criticism Russia faced in 2018 for its actions against Telegram.

Elon Musk, the owner of X (formerly known as Twitter), who has also faced scrutiny over content moderation on his platform, weighed in on the situation. He used the hashtag #freepavel in one post and expressed concerns about the future of free speech in Europe with another, writing, “POV: It’s 2030 in Europe and you’re being executed for liking a meme.”

As the situation unfolds, the arrest of Pavel Durov raises questions about the responsibilities of social media platforms and the broader implications for freedom of expression in the digital age.