(Kitco News) – Russian-born billionaire Pavel Durov, founder of messaging app Telegram, was arrested at a French airport on Saturday after a criminal complaint was filed against the CEO alleging that Telegram’s moderation practices were deemed to be insufficient.
According to French network TF1, the warrant for Durov was issued by OFIM, an office of the French National Police that's tasked with preventing violence against minors, alleging he is complicit in the crimes committed on the platform because of Telegram’s lack of moderation in drug trafficking, distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), and fraud.
“On his platform, countless crimes and offenses were committed for which he does nothing to moderate or cooperate,” TF1 quoted a law enforcement source as saying.
“For years, it has become the number one platform for organized crime," another source who spoke with TF1 said. One source added that they were surprised he came to France since he was aware that he had an arrest warrant.
According to a statement released by the Tribunal Judiciaire de Paris, Durov was arrested as part of a sweeping cybercrime investigation that included allegations of providing “cryptology” services and tools.
“This measure comes in the context of a judicial investigation opened the 8th of July 2024, following a preliminary inquiry initiated by Section J3 - JUNALCO (Fight against Cybercrime) of the Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office,” the statement said.
A “judicial investigation was opened against person unnamed, on charges of ... providing cryptology services aiming to ensure confidentiality without certified declaration, providing a cryptology tool not solely ensuring authentication or integrity monitoring without prior declaration, [and] importing a cryptology tool ensuring authentication or integrity monitoring without prior declaration,” it added.
Many have been quick to say that the arrest was politically motivated, with some pointing to a crackdown on free speech, while others said the arrest was because Durov is Russian.
French lawmakers pushed back against the speculation on Monday, with President Emanuel Macron saying that the arrest was “in no way a political decision,” adding that France is dedicated to supporting the freedom of expression.
“I have seen false information regarding France following the arrest of Pavel Durov,” Macron tweeted. “France is deeply committed to freedom of expression and communication, to innovation, and to the spirit of entrepreneurship. It will remain so.”
“In a state governed by the rule of law, freedoms are upheld within a legal framework, both on social media and in real life, to protect citizens and respect their fundamental rights,” he added. “It is up to the judiciary, in full independence, to enforce the law. The arrest of the president of Telegram on French soil took place as part of an ongoing judicial investigation. It is in no way a political decision. It is up to the judges to rule on the matter.”
According to Reuters, a police spokesman said Durov is under investigation by the national cybercrime and fraud offices for failing to cooperate over cyber and financial crimes on Telegram. The CEO is accused of being passive with regard to cyber and financial crimes being committed on the Telegram platform, the spokesperson said.
The comments from Macron and the police came two days after Durov’s arrest. The delayed confirmation of his arrest led many to speculate about the reasons for his detention, including the rumors that it was focused on free speech.
Critics remain skeptical of the French government's official position. X owner Elon Musk tweeted “FreePavel” on Saturday, saying that free speech in Europe is under attack and calling for French authorities to give Durov his rights.
The 39-year-old billionaire has dual French and United Arab Emirates citizenship and is estimated to be worth $15.5 billion. In April, he told reporters that several governments had sought to pressure him into greater censorship, but said the app should remain a neutral platform and not a “player in geopolitics.”
Telegram responded to the arrest by saying that the company abides by all European Union laws and follows the recommended standard on content moderation.
“Telegram abides by EU laws, including the Digital Services Act – its moderation is within industry standards and constantly improving,” the company tweeted. “ Telegram's CEO Pavel Durov has nothing to hide and travels frequently in Europe.”
“It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform,” the statement said. “Almost a billion users globally use Telegram as means of communication and as a source of vital information. We’re awaiting a prompt resolution of this situation. Telegram is with you all.”
When asked about his arrest during a briefing on Monday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, “We do not yet know what exactly Durov is accused of,”
“With what exactly are they trying to incriminate Durov? Without (knowing), it would probably be wrong to make any statements,” he added.
French authorities have reportedly declined to cooperate with a request for consular access by the Russian embassy in Paris.
In response to Durov’s arrest, Chris Pavlovski, founder and CEO of YouTube alternative Rumble, said he has “departed” from Europe to avoid a similar situation.
“I’m a little late to this, but for good reason – I’ve just safely departed from Europe,” Pavlovski tweeted. “France has threatened Rumble, and now they have crossed a red line by arresting Telegram’s CEO, Pavel Durov, reportedly for not censoring speech.”
“Rumble will not stand for this behavior and will use every legal means available to fight for freedom of expression, a universal human right,” he added. “We are currently fighting in the courts of France, and we hope for Pavel Durov’s immediate release.”
The development has highlighted an interesting shift in free speech matters across the political spectrum in recent years. Durov left Russia in 2014 after he refused to comply with demands to shut down opposition communities on his VK social media platform, which has since been sold.
He was granted a French passport in 2021 through a special procedure for high-profile foreigners that exempts them from the usual legal requirements, such as having to live in France for at least five years.
He now faces the same type of scrutiny for supporting free speech from French authorities as he did in Russia.
Telegram launched in 2013 and has grown to enjoy a user base of nearly 1 billion users. The platform has a strong presence in Russia, Ukraine, and the republics of the former Soviet Union.
In recent years, Telegram has become one of the most popular messaging apps for cryptocurrency proponents, and the platform launched the Telegram Open Network and its native Toncoin (TON) in 2019 after navigating some early legal hurdles.
Following the announcement of Durov’s arrest, TON price plunged 23.7%, falling from $6.89 to hit a low of $5.25 on Sunday.
TON/USD Chart by TradingView
At the time of writing, TON trades at $5.36, a decrease of 8.34% on the 24-hour chart.
