Petteri Pyyny
25 Aug 2024 7:12
Telegram's co-founder and CEO, Pavel Durov, has been arrested in France.
The arrest was carried out by French police at the small Le Bourget airport, located near Paris.
The reason for the arrest is linked to an investigation in France, which accuses the company of failing to sufficiently monitor the content on its messaging platform. According to French authorities, the service is used for criminal activities, such as drug trafficking, fraud, and crimes against minors.
Telegram is particularly popular in former Soviet states, and it is widely used by both Russian and Ukrainian authorities for communication with their citizens. The app also has a massive user base across Asia, including in India and Pakistan.
Durov has been in exile from Russia since 2014, and Telegram's operations have been moved out of the country years ago. However, the messaging app has been surrounded by a strong veil of suspicion regarding its privacy practices, as Telegram has not allowed its encryption algorithms to be reviewed by independent parties.
Durov holds dual citizenship in France and Russia but currently resides in Dubai. He is expected to appear for questioning, possibly as soon as today.