Telegram CEO Durov detained as French probe intensifies over platform misuse

[KARAH RUCKER]

THE ARREST OF A SOCIAL MEDIA BILLIONAIRE IS RAISING NEW QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LIABILITIES TECH EXECUTIVES FACE WHEN IT COMES TO THE CONTENT USERS SHARE ON THEIR PLATFORMS.

(PAH–VEL DIR-OV) PAVEL DUROV, THE FOUNDER OF TELEGRAM, WAS DETAINED AT A PARIS AIRPORT, AMID ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE PLATFORM.

HIS ARREST IS LINKED TO AN ONGOING FRENCH INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGATIONS THAT TELEGRAM’S LACK OF CONTENT MODERATION HAS ALLOWED ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES TO FLOURISH. FRENCH AUTHORITIES HAVE SCRUTINIZED TELEGRAM FOR NOT DOING ENOUGH TO PREVENT DISINFORMATION, EXTREMISM, AND OTHER CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES FROM SPREADING THROUGH ITS ENCRYPTED MESSAGING SERVICE.

DUROV, WHO HAS FRENCH AND UAE CITIZENSHIP, BUILT TELEGRAM INTO A PLATFORM WITH NEARLY 1 BILLION USERS WORLDWIDE WHICH FOCUSES ON PRIVACY AND FREE SPEECH.

THE MESSAGING APP’S HANDS-OFF APPROACH TO CONTENT MODERATION HAS ATTRACTED CRITICISM, ESPECIALLY IN EUROPE, WHERE GOVERNMENTS HAVE INCREASINGLY CALLED FOR TECH COMPANIES TO TAKE GREATER RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT OCCURS ON THEIR PLATFORMS.

THE FRENCH INVESTIGATION REPORTEDLY CENTERS ON TELEGRAM’S ALLEGED FAILURE TO COOPERATE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PROVIDE ADEQUATE MODERATION TO PREVENT ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES.

TELEGRAM IS WIDELY USED IN COUNTRIES LIKE RUSSIA AND UKRAINE – BECOMING A KEY PLATFORM FOR UNFILTERED COMMUNICATION, ESPECIALLY DURING THE ONGOING CONFLICT. FOLLOWING DUROV’S ARREST, TELEGRAM ISSUED A STATEMENT SAYING IT COMPLIES WITH EU LAWS AND SAYS THAT NEITHER THE PLATFORM OR ITS CEO SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR USERS’ MISUSE OF THE SERVICE.

THE ARREST HAS SPARKED INTERNATIONAL BACKLASH —  FIGURES LIKE X OWNER ELON MUSK CONDEMNED THE MOVE AS AN ATTACK ON FREE SPEECH IN EUROPE. MOSCOW, DESPITE PAST TENSIONS WITH DUROV, HAS DEMANDED ACCESS TO HIM AND LABELED THE ARREST AS POLITICALLY MOTIVATED.

DESPITE DUROV’S ARREST TELEGRAM CONTINUES TO ASSERT ITS NEUTRALITY AND DEDICATION TO USER PRIVACY AS THE INVESTIGATION UNFOLDS.

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