Pavel Durov Arrested in France

(Reuters) – Pavel Durov, billionaire founder and CEO of the Telegram messaging app, was arrested at the Bourget airport outside Paris on Saturday evening, according to TF1 TV and BFM TV citing unidentified sources.

Both TF1 and BFM reported that the investigation focused on a lack of moderators on Telegram, which allegedly allowed criminal activities to persist on the platform without deterrent action.

Telegram did not respond immediately to a request for comment from Reuters. The French Interior Ministry and police declined to comment. Meanwhile, Russia, which has previously attempted to ban Telegram, stated it was taking steps to clarify Durov’s situation.

Background on Durov and Telegram

• Pavel Durov: A Russian-born entrepreneur, 39, and founder of the messaging app Telegram, which competes against other social media platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, and WeChat. He aims for Telegram to exceed one billion active monthly users within the year.

• Influence: Telegram holds significant influence in Russia, Ukraine, and former Soviet republics, serving as a vital information source during Russia’s war in Ukraine, and is heavily utilized by both Moscow and Kyiv officials. Analysts have dubbed the app a “virtual battlefield” for this conflict.

• Durov’s Wealth and Citizenship: Durov’s fortune is estimated by Forbes at $15.5 billion. After refusing government demands to shut down opposition communities on VKontakte, he left Russia in 2014. He became a French citizen in August 2021 and relocated Telegram to Dubai in 2017, reportedly becoming a citizen there as well, as well as a citizen of St. Kitts and Nevis.

• Background on Telegram: Russia started blocking Telegram in 2018 after it declined a court order to grant state security services access to encrypted messages. This blockade spurred mass protests in Moscow and criticism from NGOs but did not significantly hinder Telegram’s availability.

• Scrutiny and Regulations: Due to its rising popularity, Telegram has faced scrutiny from various European countries over security and data breach issues. In May, EU tech regulators communicated with Telegram as it approached criteria that could make it subject to stricter requirements under new EU online content legislation.

• Durov’s Philosophy: In April, Durov expressed to journalist Tucker Carlson, “I would rather be free than to take orders from anyone” related to his departure from Russia and search for a base for his company across several cities, including Berlin, London, Singapore, and San Francisco.