Telegram CEO Pavel Durov Responds to Arrest and Investigation by French Authorities

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov took to the messaging platform on Thursday, expressing his surprise over being arrested and questioned by French authorities less than two weeks ago. The arrest, which occurred at a Paris airport, is part of an ongoing investigation into alleged criminal activities conducted through Telegram, according to French prosecutors. Durov was released from police custody after posting bail set at $5.56 million, while the investigation continues.

Durov shared that Telegram, which now has 950 million users, is widely used as both an everyday messaging tool and a means to bypass restrictions imposed by authoritarian governments. However, he acknowledged that it is also favored by groups such as White supremacists and ISIS. Additionally, French prosecutors are investigating Durov for alleged “acts of violence” against his child in Switzerland.

In his first post since the arrest, Durov acknowledged that the platform’s rapid growth had created challenges, making it easier for criminals to exploit the app. He stated that he has made it his personal mission to address these issues and mentioned that the company has already begun internal efforts to improve the situation, promising to provide further updates soon.

Durov reiterated that Telegram’s core purpose is to protect users living under authoritarian regimes, citing instances where the app refused to hand over encryption keys to Russian authorities, resulting in a ban in Russia. He also mentioned that the app was banned in Iran after refusing to block channels used by protesters.

Durov said that Telegram is willing to exit markets that conflict with its principles, emphasizing that the company is not motivated by profit. He noted that the app has left markets where it cannot agree with local regulators on balancing privacy and security.

He also criticized the French authorities’ decision to hold him personally accountable, arguing that if a country is dissatisfied with an internet service, the standard practice is to initiate legal action against the service itself. Durov suggested that using outdated laws to hold a CEO liable for crimes committed by third parties on the platform is a misguided approach.

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