Alleged Arrest of Telegram Founder in France for Moderation Policy
Pavel Durov, Telegram Co-Founder, Arrested in France
Pavel Durov, co-founder of Telegram, was arrested on Saturday night at an airport several kilometers north of Paris, according to French media reports. Durov had arrived from Azerbaijan on a private jet and was the subject of a French search warrant for lack of moderators on the app, as well as alleged involvement in drug trafficking, money laundering, and distribution of child abuse material.
No official statements have been made by French authorities or Durov so far. However, Elon Musk and others have condemned the arrest as an attack on freedom of expression. Telegram stated that they comply with EU laws and industry standards for content moderation, denying responsibility for platform abuse.
Who is Pavel Durov?
Durov, 39, has an estimated fortune of billions of dollars and made headlines earlier this year for his unconventional approach to parenting. Telegram has faced censorship and government scrutiny in the past, with clashes over content moderation and privacy issues. The app has been blocked in several countries for various reasons, showing the ongoing challenges faced by the platform.
