The French media reported on Sunday that Pavel Durov, the CEO and founder of the widely-used encrypted messaging service Telegram, was detained at the Paris Le Bourget airport. He was taken into custody by investigators from the National Anti-Fraud Office after arriving in France from Azerbaijan on Saturday evening. French authorities have not provided any comments on the matter due to the ongoing investigation surrounding Durov’s arrest.
Reports suggest that the 39-year-old Durov was apprehended based on an arrest warrant issued by France. The warrant was reportedly issued due to allegations that Telegram, the platform he created, has been utilized for illicit activities such as money laundering, drug trafficking, and the dissemination of content related to the sexual exploitation of minors. The messaging service has faced criticism from Western governments for its perceived lack of content moderation.
In response to Durov’s arrest, Russian officials have denounced the action, citing it as an example of double standards on freedom of speech. Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, referenced previous condemnation of Russia’s decision to block Telegram in 2018 by international organizations such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. Zakharova questioned whether these organizations would now appeal for Durov’s release in Paris, highlighting perceived discrepancies in how freedom of speech is treated in different countries.
