Telegram CEO Pavel Durov Arrested In France Over Alleged Lack Of Moderation On The Social Messaging App

Pavel Durov, the billionaire founder and CEO of Telegram, was detained at Bourget airport near Paris, France on Saturday (24 August) evening.

According to local media reports, Durov was allegedly arrested for 'lack of moderation' on Telegram, which the police believe allowed criminal activity to go on undeterred on the messaging app.

The 39-year-old Durov, who was born in Russia, founded and owns Telegram, a messaging app that offers free services and rivals platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, and WeChat.

Telegram is likely to surpass one billion monthly active users in the coming year.

The app is influential in Russia, Ukraine, and other former Soviet republics. It has emerged as a key source of information regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, with both Russian and Ukrainian officials extensively using the platform.

With a net worth estimated at $15.5 billion by Forbes, Durov left Russia in 2014 after rejecting the government's orders to close down opposition groups on his VKontakte social media platform, which he eventually sold.

Reports from Russian and French media say that Durov acquired French citizenship in 2021. Prior to that, he relocated both himself and Telegram to Dubai in 2017.

During an interview with US journalist Tucker Carlson in April, Durov said, "I would rather be free than to take orders from anyone," referring to his departure from Russia and the quest to find a new base for his company, which led him to various cities, including Berlin, London, Singapore, and San Francisco.

In the same discussion, Durov also mentioned that apart from money or Bitcoin, he does not possess any significant assets like real estate, private jets, or yachts, as he wanted to be freee.

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