In response to the recent arrest of Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of the popular messaging app Telegram, the company issued a statement on Sunday, declaring that Durov “has nothing to hide” and expressing hope for a swift resolution to the situation. Durov, a Russian-born billionaire, was apprehended at Le Bourget airport near Paris on Saturday after returning from Azerbaijan on a private jet. He is currently in custody and under investigation by national cybercrime agencies.
French media, citing an anonymous source close to the investigation, reported on Sunday that the initial period of Durov’s detention for questioning has been extended and could last up to a maximum of 96 hours. A police spokesperson told Reuters on Monday that Durov is accused of being passive regarding cyber and financial crimes allegedly committed on the Telegram platform. However, no further details were provided.
In its statement, Telegram criticized the accusations, stating, “It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for the abuse of that platform.” The company further emphasized that it “abides by EU laws” and that its moderation practices are “within industry standards and constantly improving.”
Following Durov’s arrest, the Russian Embassy in Paris reportedly sent a note to the French Foreign Ministry demanding consular access to Durov. Russian media also reported that state officials have been ordered to delete “sensitive chats” on Telegram and to switch to an alternative messaging app.
Despite past attempts by Russia to ban Telegram within the country and censor some of its channels, Kremlin-controlled media and several Russian politicians are portraying Durov’s arrest as an attack on freedom of speech. They suggest that the detention could be politically motivated and potentially used as a means to access Telegram user data.
In the first public statement from a French official following the arrest, French President Emmanuel Macron dismissed these claims on Monday, asserting that Durov’s arrest was not a “political decision” and did not violate freedom of speech. “France is deeply committed to freedom of expression and communication,” Macron said. “The arrest of the president of Telegram on French soil took place as part of an ongoing judicial investigation. It is in no way a political decision. It is up to the judges to rule on the matter.”
Telegram, a widely popular app, especially in Eastern Europe, is known for its social media-like features that allow users to publish news, share videos, and send geographic locations in real time. However, the app’s convenience has also made it a frequent target for abuse by hackers and other malicious actors who use it to spread disinformation and malicious files. In July, several popular Ukrainian news channels on Telegram were hacked to spread “provocative messages,” affecting channels with “hundreds of thousands and even millions of subscribers.”
Cybercriminals have also been known to use Telegram as a marketplace for selling hacking tools or as a command-and-control server to exfiltrate stolen user data during cyberattacks.
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Great detailed reporting and thanks for the update. 👍.
Thank you very much! And you’re welcome. 😎