Pavel Durov, the CEO of Telegram, has been detained by French authorities at Le Bourget Airport north of Paris, according to local media reports. The 39-year-old billionaire was arrested in connection with a warrant related to alleged offenses involving Telegram, primarily concerning the platform's moderation practices. The arrest reportedly stems from an investigation into Telegram’s alleged failure to address criminal activities on its platform, including drug trafficking, child sexual exploitation, and fraud. Authorities accuse Durov of insufficient cooperation with law enforcement efforts to curb these issues. Telegram has previously countered claims of inadequate moderation. Durov, who is of Russian origin but resides in Dubai where Telegram is headquartered, holds dual citizenship of the United Arab Emirates and France. His messaging app, popular across Russia, Ukraine, and other post-Soviet states, faced a significant legal battle in Russia in 2018, resulting in a temporary ban due to Durov’s refusal to hand over user data. The ban was lifted in 2021. In response to Durov's arrest, the Russian Embassy in France has sought clarification on the charges and is working to ensure Durov’s rights are protected, expressing frustration over the lack of cooperation from French authorities. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova criticized Western human rights organizations for their silence, referencing their previous criticism of Russia's treatment of Telegram. Edward Snowden, the American whistleblower living in Russia, condemned the arrest as a violation of fundamental human rights. Elon Musk, the owner of X (formerly Twitter), also weighed in, using social media to voice his support for Durov and criticize the situation, drawing comparisons to dystopian scenarios. Telegram’s moderation policies have come under scrutiny in various jurisdictions, including the UK, where the platform was criticized for hosting far-right content that contributed to recent violent disturbances. Despite removing some problematic groups, Telegram's approach to managing extremist and illegal content remains less stringent compared to other major social media platforms.
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