Telegram CEO Breaks Silence on French Arrest Amidst Moderation Controversy

Pavel Durov has penned a Telegram post addressing the allegations brought against him by the French authorities following his arrest last month. 

Durov Speaks Up

Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of Telegram, has spoken out for the first time following his arrest by French authorities on August 24 near Paris. On September 5, Durov took to his Telegram channel to share his account of the events surrounding his arrest and the charges levied against him.

In his Telegram post, Durov explained his confusion and shock at the charges, stating French police questioned him for four days. 

He remarked, 

“I was told I may be personally responsible for other people’s illegal use of Telegram because the French authorities didn’t receive responses from Telegram.”

Allegations of Misuse against Durov

The French authorities arrested Durov at Le Bourget Airport near Paris on August 24 on allegations centering around Telegram’s content moderation practices. The authorities accused the platform of enabling illegal activities, such as drug trafficking and the distribution of harmful content, including child exploitation materials.

In his post, Durov reassured users that the company is already working on solutions to reduce misuse of the platform and promised to share more details soon.

Durov’s Response and Criticism

Durov questioned the actions of the French authorities, arguing that Telegram already has systems in place to respond to legal requests from European law enforcement agencies. Furthermore, Durov emphasized his own cooperation with French officials in the past, particularly in helping establish a direct line of communication with Telegram to address terrorism concerns in France.

While the CEO admitted that improvements could be made in how authorities communicate with Telegram, he dismissed claims that the platform is lawless. He highlighted the company’s efforts to remove millions of harmful posts daily and to provide transparency through public reports.

Durov Calls Out “Misguided Approach”

The CEO also criticized the decision to hold him personally accountable for third-party activities on Telegram, calling it a flawed approach. He argued that legal action should be directed at the platform rather than the individuals managing it, saying,  

“Building technology is hard enough as it is. No innovator will ever build new tools if they know they can be personally held responsible for potential abuse of those tools.” 

Challenges of Privacy and Regulation

Durov acknowledged the complexities of balancing user privacy with law enforcement demands, noting the difficulty of aligning local laws with broader international regulations. Despite these challenges, he reiterated that Telegram is dedicated to protecting user rights, especially in regions with authoritarian governments. 

He emphasized that the company is willing to exit markets that enforce regulations conflicting with its core principles. Citing examples, he mentioned that Telegram had been banned in Russia for refusing to share encryption keys with the government and in Iran for declining to block peaceful protester channels.

Implications for Free Speech in Tech 

The arrest of Durov has reignited discussions about free speech and privacy in the tech industry. Figures like Elon Musk and Edward Snowden have come out in support of Durov, labeling the incident as an attack on free expression. The case is being closely watched for its potential impact on both Telegram and the broader tech landscape.

Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.