French authorities have extended the detention of Pavel Durov, the Russian-born founder of Telegram, after his arrest at a Paris airport. Durov, who also holds French citizenship, was taken into custody following allegations related to the Telegram messaging app. The app has been criticised for failing to curb criminal activities on its platform.
The French Office for the Prevention of Violence against Minors had issued the arrest warrant, citing offences including fraud, drug trafficking, and organised crime. Despite these allegations, Telegram maintains that it adheres to European Union laws and industry-standard moderation practices.
Durov, who founded Telegram after facing pressure from the Russian government with his earlier project, VKontakte, has been living in Dubai. He was arrested after arriving in Paris from Baku, Azerbaijan. French media reported that Durov’s detention could last up to 96 hours, after which a judge will decide whether to release him or press further charges.
This development has drawn attention from high-profile figures, including Elon Musk and Edward Snowden, who have criticised the detention as an attack on human rights. Meanwhile, Russia has accused France of refusing to cooperate in the matter, as Durov also holds Russian citizenship.
Telegram’s encrypted messaging service, based in Dubai, has often been at the centre of controversy for allowing unmoderated content, making it popular among criminal syndicates and extremist groups. While Durov’s team insists that the platform abides by all necessary regulations, the current investigation could lead to more stringent measures against the app in France and possibly elsewhere in Europe.
