Telegram's founder and CEO Pavel Durov has commented for the first time after being arrested by French authorities. Durov was detained at Le Bourget Airport near Paris on August 24. On September 5, he shared the story on his Telegram channel. Let's delve into why French authorities arrested him and what charges were brought against him.
Reasons for the Arrest
French authorities arrested Durov on charges related to Telegram’s moderation policies. They claim that illegal activities, including drug trafficking and the distribution of harmful content like child pornography, are facilitated through the platform. Durov shared in his post that he was questioned for four days. The authorities informed him that he could be held responsible for other people’s illegal use of Telegram. French authorities noted that the arrest occurred because Telegram did not respond to their law enforcement requests in a timely manner.
Durov's Response to the Accusations
In his Telegram post, Durov expressed surprise at the arrest and the charges. He stated that there are many ways for French authorities to reach him without detaining him. According to him, Telegram has an official representative in the EU who handles all law enforcement requests, and his email is publicly available. Durov also revealed that he frequently visits the French consulate in Dubai and has helped the French authorities personally in the past by setting up a hotline with Telegram to deal with terrorism threats in France.
Criticism Over Charges and Privacy Stance
Durov voiced concerns over the approach of the French authorities, attempting to hold him accountable for crimes committed by users of Telegram. He stated, "It is not easy to set a right balance between privacy and security. You have to take into account the laws and technological limitations while keeping the process consistent globally." This is not the first time Telegram has faced demands to compromise user privacy. Durov mentioned that Telegram is prepared to leave any country if necessary, as it had done previously with Russia, when encryption keys were demanded, and Iran, when channels of peaceful protesters were targeted.
Despite the arrest, Durov assured that Telegram remains committed to privacy principles while working to improve its response to illegal activities. Durov's arrest has reignited the ongoing debate around free speech and privacy. Prominent figures like Elon Musk and Edward Snowden have publicly supported Durov, calling his arrest an attack on free speech. This case could have significant implications not only for Telegram but for the broader tech industry, raising the question of whether platform owners can be held liable for users' actions.
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