A French investigative judge has extended the police custody of Pavel Durov, the CEO of the popular messaging app Telegram, as part of an ongoing judicial inquiry involving 12 alleged criminal violations. These violations include complicity in selling child sexual abuse material, drug trafficking, fraud, abetting organized crime transactions, and refusal to share information with investigators as required by law.
Durov, who holds citizenship in Russia, France, the United Arab Emirates, and St. Kitts and Nevis, was detained at Le Bourget airport on Saturday and his custody was extended for up to 48 hours on Monday evening.
French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized that Durov's arrest was not politically motivated but part of an independent investigation aimed at upholding freedoms within a legal framework to protect citizens and respect their fundamental rights.
Various governments and organizations, including the UAE Foreign Ministry, the Russian Embassy in Paris, and Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have expressed interest or concerns regarding Durov's case.
Telegram, founded by Durov and his brother, has nearly a billion users worldwide and has faced scrutiny for its content moderation practices. While the platform claims to abide by EU laws and industry standards, Western governments have criticized it for potential misuse in activities like money laundering and the sharing of illegal content.
In 2022, Germany issued fines against Telegram's operators for failing to establish a lawful way to report illegal content, highlighting ongoing challenges faced by large online platforms in complying with regulatory requirements.
