After the Arrest of Its Founder, Telegram Claims Compliance with EU Laws, Asserting Platforms and Owners Should Not Be Held Accountable for Misuse
Brook.X
Over the weekend, Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of the instant messaging tool Telegram, was arrested in France. French authorities have accused Durov of failing to implement measures to prevent Telegram from being exploited by criminals, with some crime syndicates using the platform for drug trafficking, fraud, and child pornography.
Following Durov's arrest, Telegram issued a strong critique of the French police and judiciary, stating that the company complies with EU laws, including the Digital Services Act (DSA), and that Pavel Durov has nothing to hide.
On the social media platform X, Telegram posted the following:
- Telegram abides by EU laws, including the Digital Services Act, while its content moderation standards meet industry norms and are continuously improving.
- CEO Pavel Durov has nothing to hide and frequently travels across Europe.
- Claiming that a platform or its owner should be responsible for misuse of the platform is absurd.
- Nearly 1 billion users worldwide use Telegram for communication and as a vital source of information.
- We are awaiting a swift resolution to this situation and stand with you, our users.
However, a quick resolution seems unlikely at this moment. Durov's initial detention period was extended by 24 hours on Sunday evening, local time, with further delays possible. The French judiciary may also prepare additional directives to prevent Durov from leaving.
For France, having arrested Durov without prior notice, it is highly unlikely that they will let him go easily, potentially leading to a prolonged legal battle.
