Pavel Durov, Telegram’s billionaire founder and CEO, was arrested Saturday evening at the Bourget airport outside Paris.
According to TF1 TV and BFM TV, unidentified sources were cited. The arrest reportedly centred on Telegram’s lack of moderators, which police believe has allowed unchecked criminal activity on the app.
As of now, Telegram has not responded to Reuters’ request for comment. Similarly, the French Interior Ministry and police have declined to comment. Russia, which has previously attempted to ban Telegram, has stated it seeks to “clarify” Durov’s situation.
Here are some key facts about Durov and Telegram:
- Pavel Durov, a 39-year-old Russian-born entrepreneur, founded Telegram, a free-to-use platform that rivals other social media giants like WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, and WeChat. The app aims to reach over one billion active monthly users within the next year.
- Telegram plays a significant role in Russia, Ukraine, and former Soviet republics, becoming a vital source of information about Russia’s war in Ukraine. It is extensively used by officials from both Moscow and Kyiv, with some analysts describing the app as a “virtual battlefield.”
- Forbes estimated Durov’s fortune at $15.5 billion. He left Russia in 2014 after refusing to shut down opposition communities on his VKontakte platform, which he subsequently sold.
- Durov acquired French citizenship in August 2021, relocated himself and Telegram to Dubai in 2017, and has reportedly received citizenship from the United Arab Emirates and St. Kitts and Nevis.
- Russia attempted to block Telegram in 2018 after the app refused a court order to let state security services access users’ encrypted messages. Although this had little effect on Telegram’s availability in Russia, it led to mass protests in Moscow and drew criticism from NGOs.
- Telegram’s growing popularity has drawn scrutiny in Europe, including France, over security and data breach concerns. In May, EU tech regulators mentioned they were in contact with Telegram as it approached a significant usage threshold that could subject it to stricter regulations under EU online content laws.
- In an April conversation with US journalist Tucker Carlson, Durov emphasized his preference for freedom over subordination, reflecting on his departure from Russia and his company’s journey across Berlin, London, Singapore, and San Francisco.
Read: Elon Musk Supports Pavel Durov, Critiques Zuckerberg Amidst Controversy
