The Russian-born billionaire was wanted on charges of allowing drug dealers and sex criminals to operate on the app, according to French media.
ADVERTISEMENTPavel Durov, the founder and CEO of messaging app Telegram, was arrested after he flew into Le Bourget airport outside Paris on his private jet on Saturday night.
Russian-born Durov, who reportedly holds various citizenships, including that of France, has been the subject of an arrest warrant in the country.
According to French media reports, the investigation centres on allegations of fraud, drug trafficking, organised crime, promotion of terrorism and cyberbullying on Telegram, and the accusation that Durov has failed to take action to inhibit criminal use of the app.
His arrest has sparked a wave of concern in the tech community and among internet freedom advocates.
Telegram, with nearly a billion users, is known for its focus on privacy and encryption, features that have made it popular but also controversial.
Responding to news of its owner's arrest, Telegram said that Durov "has nothing to hide" and that it's "absurd" to suggest that the platform or its owner are responsible for any abuse of said platform.
French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed Durov's arrest in a social media post on Monday, stating that it occurred "as part of an ongoing judicial investigation".
France is "attached to the freedom of expression and communication, innovation and entrepreneurship," Macron wrote, adding that the arrest was "in no way a political decision".
Telegram's impact
Telegram has become one of the leading social media platforms, ranking high alongside giants like Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, and WeChat.
Its influence is particularly noticeable in Russia, Ukraine, and the republics of the former Soviet Union.
Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, Telegram has become the main source of unfiltered content about the war and the politics surrounding the conflict, but it has also been a source of disinformation.
Some analysts describe it as a "virtual battlefield" used intensively by both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his officials, as well as by the Russian government.
However, it is an application that still does not meet the requirements of the European Union, which has led to its temporary suspension in some member countries, such as Spain.
What does Durov's arrest mean for other social media moguls?
Russian-born Durov founded Telegram with his brother in 2013.
He left Russia in 2014 after refusing to comply with government demands to shut down opposition communities on his VKontakte social media platform, which he eventually sold.
ADVERTISEMENTIn an interview with US journalist Tucker Carlson in April, Durov explained his departure from Russia and search for a home for his company, which included stays in Berlin, London, Singapore, and San Francisco.
"I prefer to be free than to take orders from someone," Durov said in the interview, stressing his commitment to freedom of expression and privacy.
Telegram has faced criticism for its relatively lax approach to moderation, which has allowed the platform to be used for illegal activities but has also provided a space for free expression in authoritarian regimes.
This case could have far-reaching implications for social media and messaging platforms around the world, potentially influencing future content moderation policies and the way these platforms operate in different legal jurisdictions.
ADVERTISEMENTThe case has indeed hit home with Elon Musk, owner of the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. Soon after news of Durov's arrest broke, the tech tycoon took to X to complain about alleged censorship.
Like Durov, Musk faces allegations that misinformation and illegal content are running rampant on his platform, and his perceived "censorship" has led him into spats with the EU and the UK.
The tycoon has recently launched a tirade against UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer for what he considers censorship of free speech linked to riots that erupted across the country earlier in August.
Musk's repeated rants and apparent amplification of disinformation and harmful content in the context of the riots led the European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services, Thierry Breton, to send him a letter warning him of the consequences of flouting EU digital services rules.
ADVERTISEMENTThe X owner brushed the letter aside.
This article has been updated with a statement from the French president.
