Telegram CEO Pavel Durov arrested in Paris: Why was he arrested, who is he, and how are people reacting?
Pavel Durov, CEO of Telegram, was arrested in Paris on charges related to the platform's alleged facilitation of illegal activities like drug trafficking and child exploitation. The arrest followed accusations that Telegram's insufficient moderation enabled these crimes.
Upon arriving at Le Bourget Airport in Paris aboard his private jet, billionaire Pavel Durov¡ªfounder and CEO of the widely used messaging service, Telegram¡ªwas swiftly taken into custody by French authorities. The arrest, executed by a part of the national directorate of the French judicial police, was based on a warrant enforceable only on French territory.
Durov has a net worth of $15.5 billion according to Forbes.
Why was Pavel Durov, Telegram CEO, arrested?
Pavel Durov, 39, was detained by officers from France's anti-fraud office, operating under French customs.
According to authorities, Durov was apprehended under a warrant tied to offenses related to his messaging platform, Telegram.
Credit: Unsplash | Telegram
The warrant stems from allegations that the platform's lack of moderation facilitated illegal activities, including money laundering, drug trafficking, and the dissemination of pedophilic content.
The Moscow Times, citing French local media, reported that Durov faces charges of complicity in drug trafficking, crimes against children, and fraud, arising from Telegram's failure to adequately cooperate with law enforcement.
Credit: cryptorank news
Who is Pavel Durov?
Russia-born Pavel Durov founded Telegram in 2013 alongside his brother. A year later, in 2014, Durov left Russia after refusing to comply with the government¡¯s demands to shut down opposition communities on his VKontakte social media platform, which he subsequently sold. He also defied requests to share user data with Russian security services.
Telegram has since risen to become one of the world's leading social media platforms, alongside giants like Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, and WeChat, with significant popularity in Russia, Ukraine, and former Soviet Union states.
In an interview with U.S. journalist Tucker Carlson in April, Durov reflected on his departure from Russia, stating, "I would rather be free than to take orders from anyone,"
His search for a permanent home for Telegram led him through Berlin, London, Singapore, and San Francisco.
Credit: silicon.co.uk
Following Russia¡¯s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Telegram has emerged as a key platform for unfiltered¡ªoften graphic and occasionally misleading¡ªcontent from both sides of the conflict, as well as a vital tool for sharing information about the war and the surrounding political landscape. It is also reportedly used by the Russian military for communication purposes.
How people reacted to Telegram CEO's arrest
People took to social media to share their reactions after news of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov's arrest spread:
France is actually going to throw Telegram founder Pavel Durov in jail for up to 20 YEARS for refusing to censor the truth.
¡ª Cillian (@CilComLFC) August 24, 2024
If this happened to Mark Zuckerberg in Russia, every Western government would be going crazy.
The hypocrisy and double standards are astounding. pic.twitter.com/Clzv1Pn0Vc
Pavel Durov left Russia when the government tried to control his social media company, Telegram. But in the end, it wasn¡¯t Putin who arrested him for allowing the public to exercise free speech. It was a western country, a Biden administration ally and enthusiastic NATO member,¡ https://t.co/F83E9GbNHC
¡ª Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) August 24, 2024
France just arrested Pavel Durov, founder & CEO of the encrypted, uncensored Telegram platform. The need to protect free speech has never been more urgent.
¡ª Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) August 25, 2024
Breaking: The crackdown against free speech escalates. Telegram founder Pavel Durov has been arrested in France. Western intelligence services want access to Telegram¡¯s private messages. According to French media Durov may face 20 years in jail if he doesn¡¯t cooperate. @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/x6bki4iarX
¡ª Kim Dotcom (@KimDotcom) August 24, 2024
Russian war-bloggers are freaking out about the arrest of Pavel Durov.
¡ª Kvist.P ???? (@kvistp) August 24, 2024
?? pic.twitter.com/vFL7hKE2o7
So yeah, if you research this Pavel Durov is being accused terrorism, narcotic supply, fraud, money laundering, receiving stolen goods and has apparently been under investigation for a while. But that won't stop Elon Musk from being dumb. pic.twitter.com/3nQWfRX9dM
¡ª ?DeathMetalViking? (@DeathMetalV) August 24, 2024
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