It has been a year since Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, was arrested, and the case remains unresolved. French authorities continue their investigation, having found no evidence of wrongdoing.
The Long Arrest Process
A year ago, Pavel Durov was detained by French police for four days. After his arrest, he expressed that the detention was unjust, as it related to crimes committed by third parties using Telegram. 'One year after this strange arrest, I still have to return to France every 14 days, with no appeal date in sight. Sadly, the only outcome of my arrest so far has been massive damage to France’s image as a free country,' Durov noted.
Platform Responsibility for User Actions
The French investigation focused on Telegram's content moderation practices. Durov argues that it is unreasonable to hold a platform’s chief executive accountable for actions committed by unrelated users. He emphasizes that Telegram actively removes harmful content and publishes daily transparency reports showing the removed posts. The platform maintains direct hotlines with NGOs for urgent requests.
Official Reactions and Telegram's Defense
French President Emmanuel Macron commented on Durov's arrest, maintaining that it was not a political matter but rather a question of law and public safety. However, his remarks drew criticism, with accusations of censorship and undermining digital freedoms. Durov also accused the French authorities of mishandling the case, stating they did not follow proper procedures to contact Telegram.
The situation surrounding Pavel Durov's case remains uncertain, with no evidence of wrongdoing. The ongoing dependence on French investigative bodies raises questions about the legitimacy of the authorities' actions.
