Telegram CEO Pavel Durov was arrested in France amid an investigation into whether the platform’s controversial app allows crime due to a lack of moderation.
Telegram’s CEO Pavel Durov Arrest Details
Durov was arrested in Paris following an investigation into Telegram’s content moderation practices. The arrest follows an arrest warrant issued for alleged misuse of the messaging app for drug trafficking, child sexual content, and fraud, highlighting the app’s ineffectiveness in mitigating criminal activities.
On the other hand, Emanuel Macron, France’s President, defended the arrest saying that it was not a political ploy and was riddled with “false information”. He added that France remains committed to freedom of expression, communication, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
The ‘Controversial’ App
Russian-born Pavel Durov fled Russia in 2014 after refusing to comply with the Ukrainian protest leader’s requests or shut down opposition communities on Vkontakte. He initially resigned but was fired after attempting to withdraw it.
Telegram, a messaging platform created by Durov in 2013, was banned in Russia in 2018 for not complying with a court order requesting access to encrypted messages. The ban was overturned in 2020 after two years of ineffective enforcement. Telegram is known for its social networking groups and channels.
The controversial app, because of its loose moderation, has seen an increase in extremist content, particularly following the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot, as it was removed from American social media platforms.
Source: Gadget Pilipinas
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