Telegram’s top executive, Pavel Durov Ofmin Paedophilia, has been arrested in France due to the platform’s claimed shortcomings in regulating illicit activities, such as the dissemination of child sexual abuse material. The company asserts that its chief executive has no hidden agenda.
The millionaire founder of the messaging app was apprehended at Paris-Le Bourget airport on Saturday evening upon his arrival from Azerbaijan on his private jet.
Pavel Durov was apprehended under a warrant issued by Ofmin, a recently established French law enforcement body dedicated to the prevention of harm to underage individuals.
“The main problem lies in the platform’s failure to moderate and cooperate effectively, despite having almost 1 billion users, especially when it comes to combating child sex crimes,” Jean-Michel Bernigaud, the secretary general of Ofmin, made a post on LinkedIn.
The French news agency AFP has asserted that Durov may potentially be charged with facilitating narcotics trafficking and supporting terrorism. The Paris prosecutor’s office has hitherto refrained from providing any comments.
Dubai-based Telegram stated on Sunday that it complies with EU legislation, notably the Digital Services Act. The platform’s moderation practices adhere to industry standards and are consistently enhancing.
Pavel Durov, the CEO of Telegram, is transparent and frequently travels throughout Europe. Asserting that a platform or its proprietor is responsible for the misuse of said platform is illogical.
The corporation expressed its expectation for a timely and decisive resolution.
The arrest of Durov has faced criticism from advocates of freedom of speech, with Elon Musk, the owner of X, using the hashtag “#freepavel” on his platform.
Edward Snowden, the US eavesdropping whistleblower currently residing in Russia, expressed his view on Durov’s detention as “an infringement upon fundamental human rights of freedom of speech and association” in a distinct post on X.
Founded in 2013, Telegram has experienced a significant increase in popularity in recent years, attracting about 1 billion users. The application has gained substantial popularity in Russia, Ukraine, and Israel.
Nevertheless, the platform’s encrypted features have also generated apprehension regarding facilitating extremism and illegal behaviour. UK far-right militants recently utilised Telegram to propagate demonstrations related to the Southport stabbings, which then devolved into violent rioting.
In 2014, Durov departed from his home country of Russia after relinquishing control of VKontakte, the widely-used social media network he co-founded in 2007. It is reported that he declined to provide Moscow with data on Ukrainian activists who were protesting against a pro-Russia government.
In 2017, he relocated to Dubai and has citizenship in the United Arab Emirates. In August 2021, Durov acquired French citizenship.
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.