Telegram’s Durov Detained in France: Allegations of Organized Crime and Terrorism Promotion

French millionaire Pavel Durov, the CEO and inventor of Telegram, has been detained at Le Bourget airport in Paris. Durov and his brother developed the encrypted messaging service in 2013, which gained popularity in Russia, Ukraine, and former Soviet Union member states.

In addition, Durov is set to appear in court on Sunday following his detention by French police who detained the 39-year-old Franco-Russian billionaire on charges related to his messaging programme.

Correspondingly, France's OFMIN has arrested Azerbaijani social media personality Durov for alleged fraud, drug trafficking, cyberbullying, organized crime, and terrorism promotion due to his failure to curb criminal use.

Investigators were surprised by Durov's arrival in Paris, stating that Telegram's impunity was over, and he was a wanted man.

Russia Indicates France is not Cooperating

Following Durov's detention, the Russian embassy in Paris charged on Sunday that the French government was “refusing to cooperate.”

“We immediately asked French authorities to explain the reasons for this detention and demanded that his rights be protected, and consular access be granted. Up to now, the French side is refusing to cooperate on this question,” the embassy declared in a statement reported by Ria Novosti.

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev criticized Telegram founder Durov for leaving Russia and believing he wouldn't work with foreign security agencies. Medvedev warned Durov that he would face difficulties in any nation if he refused to assist law enforcement in a previous exchange.

Russia's Security Council deputy head, Medvedev, criticized Durov for aiming to be a "brilliant" man without a motherland, stating he miscalculated and is now seen as unpredictable and dangerous for common enemies.

Investigating Telegram

The Dubai-based encrypted messaging app has positioned itself as a substitute for US-owned platforms, which have come under fire for abusing users' personal information for profit.

Telegram pledges never to share any user data with third parties.

Durov, in an interview with Tucker Carlson, revealed he developed the idea for an encrypted messaging app after facing Russian government pressure at VK, and chose Dubai for its business environment and neutrality.

Telegram's popularity stems from its independence, privacy, and freedom, with over 900 million active users, according to Durov.

Based in the UAE, Telegram has evaded moderation laws amid Western pressure to remove illegal content. Its 200,000-member groups have been accused of facilitating false information spread and disseminating neo-Nazi, paedophilic, conspiratorial, and terrorist content.

In 2019, WhatsApp introduced global restrictions on message forwarding following allegations of facilitating the spread of false information in India, leading to lynchings.

Elon Musk reposted an interview with Durov, praising Musk's takeover of X as a "great development" and retweeting the hashtags “FreePavel” and “Liberté! Liberté! Liberté?”

Conclusion:

The arrest of Pavel Durov in Paris marks a significant escalation in the ongoing scrutiny of Telegram, a platform praised for its commitment to privacy but criticized for its alleged role in facilitating illegal activities. As legal proceedings unfold, the case could have far-reaching implications not only for Durov personally but also for the future of encrypted messaging services worldwide. The growing tensions between France and Russia over this issue underscore the complex intersection of technology, privacy, and international relations. The outcome of Durov's court appearance may set a precedent for how governments balance individual privacy with the need to curb criminal activity in the digital age.

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