Telegram CEO Pavel Durov – Reports indicate that the investigation focuses on Telegram’s purported deficiencies in content moderation. French authorities are said to contend that this circumstance has permitted criminal activities to proliferate without restraint on the platform.

Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of the widely used messaging application Telegram, has been apprehended by French law enforcement at Le Bourget Airport, located north of Paris. The 39-year-old technology entrepreneur was taken into custody following his arrival on a private jet, as reported by French media outlets.

Authorities have indicated that Durov’s detention was executed under a warrant associated with alleged violations linked to the Telegram platform. The precise details of these allegations have not yet been revealed.

The Russian embassy in France has reacted promptly to the recent developments, with TASS, the state news agency of Russia, indicating that diplomatic representatives are undertaking “immediate measures” to obtain further details regarding the situation.

Read Also : Wayanad landslide

Durov, whose wealth is approximated by Forbes at $15.5 billion, was reportedly en route on his private jet from Azerbaijan when he was apprehended at approximately 8:00 PM local time. This arrest is believed to be connected to a current preliminary police inquiry in France.

Reports indicate that the investigation focuses on Telegram’s purported deficiencies in content moderation. French authorities are said to contend that this inadequacy has permitted criminal activities to proliferate without oversight on the platform.

With nearly 900 million active users, Telegram has emerged as a major entity in global communications, especially in Russia, Ukraine, and other former Soviet states. The platform has gained recognition as a vital source of unfiltered information regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, utilized by both government representatives and the general populace.

Durov, originally from Russia and currently residing in Dubai, has expressed in the past that despite facing pressure from various governments, Telegram ought to function as a “neutral platform” rather than engage in “geopolitical affairs.”

Read Also : UPSC Coaching Flooded

The reports regarding Durov’s alleged arrest have elicited prompt responses. The Russian embassy in France informed the state news agency TASS that it is undertaking “immediate” measures to ascertain the details of the situation. Concurrently, several Russian politicians and diplomats have condemned France’s actions, with social media circulating calls for protests at French embassies globally.