Pavel Durov, the CEO and founder of Telegram, has spoken out for the first time since his arrest in France last month. His comments, delivered through his official Telegram channel, have garnered significant attention.
Privacy Under Scrutiny
According to Durov, Telegram established channels for handling requests from law enforcement agencies. He criticized French authorities for bypassing these channels and addressing him personally rather than following established procedures. The Telegram CEO argued that using outdated legal frameworks to hold a CEO accountable for third-party activities on their platform is a flawed approach. Durov emphasized that Telegram actively removes harmful content, including millions of posts and channels daily. > *"You have to take into account technological limitations. As a platform, you want your processes to be consistent globally, while also ensuring they are not abused in countries with weak rule of law," the Telegram CEO stated. “We’ve been committed to engaging with regulators to find the right balance. Yes, we stand by our principles: our experience is shaped by our mission to protect our users in authoritarian regimes.”*
Legal and Regulatory Responses
The legal trouble for Durov began in August 2024, when he was detained in France amid an investigation into serious allegations, including child sexual abuse images and drug trafficking. Although he was granted bail, the conditions include regular reporting to police and restrictions on his movement. Durov’s arrest ignited an international debate about freedom of speech and privacy, involving figures such as Elon Musk and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Conclusions
Despite these challenges, Durov remains steadfast in his defense of Telegram’s privacy policies and operational practices. He also hinted at potential changes in Telegram’s market strategy, suggesting that the platform may withdraw from markets that compromise its core principles. Durov cited previous instances where Telegram had faced bans in Russia and Iran due to its refusal to comply with government demands for user data.
It remains to be seen how the events surrounding Telegram and its founder Pavel Durov will unfold and what impact this will have on the future of the company and its users.
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