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What just happened? Pavel Durov, the CEO of messaging app Telegram, has been charged by French authorities over allegations he allowed criminal activity on the app. Durov was arrested in France on Saturday. He is barred from leaving the country and only avoided being held in custody by paying a 5 million euro ($5.56 million) bail. Durov must also report to a police station twice a week.
Durov was arrested by the Air Transport Gendarmerie (GTA) on the tarmac of Le Bourget airport around 8 p.m. on Saturday, shortly after stepping off his private jet.
The Russian-born billionaire, who became a French citizen in 2021, was arrested on the authorization of the OFMIN (Office to Combat Violence Against Minors). His charges include operating a platform that facilitates the spread of sexual images of children and is used by organized crime for drug trafficking and fraud. It's also claimed that Telegram refused to cooperate with investigators when asked to share documents and information.
French authorities said earlier this week that Durov's arrest was part of an investigation into Telegram's failure to moderate alleged criminal activity on the app.
In France, preliminary charges against an individual mean that while authorities strongly believe a crime has been committed, more time is allowed for further investigation.
"Telegram's CEO, Pavel Durov, has nothing to hide and travels frequently in Europe," Telegram said in a statement. "It is absurd to claim that a platform, or its owner, are responsible for abuse of that platform."
"Almost a billion users globally use Telegram as means of communication and as a source of vital information. We're awaiting a prompt resolution of this situation. Telegram is with you all."
Telegram said in February that it has 41 million users in the EU, but some believe it is purposely lowering this number to avoid being classed as a "gatekeeper" under the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA). Those services with 45 million monthly active users – such as Alphabet, Meta, and Microsoft – fall into this category, and are subject to tighter EU regulations. Telegram was supposed to provide updated user figures this month, but it only declared that its average number of monthly active users was "significantly fewer" than 45 million.
Durov's arrest is causing outcry in Russia, with some government officials claiming the move was politically motivated.
The Russian embassy in France issued a statement on Facebook that read: "Following the media reports about the detention of P Durov, the French authorities were immediately requested to clarify the reasons for the detention and to provide for the protection of Mr Durov's rights and facilitate consular access."
"As of today, the French authorities are, at the present time, not co-operating on this issue."
Russia says the arrest illustrates the West's double standards when it comes to freedom of speech.
Russia ordered a ban on Telegram in 2018, a week after state communications regulator Roskomnadzor filed a lawsuit aimed at limiting access to the app within the country. The ban was lifted in 2020 after Russia failed in its efforts to block Telegram.
Masthead: TechCrunch