French authorities have extended the detention of Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, after arresting him at a Paris airport on Saturday. The Russian-born tech entrepreneur is accused of several crimes related to his messaging app, including fraud, drug trafficking, organized crime, terrorism promotion, and cyberbullying.
Durov, 39, was apprehended at Le Bourget airport after flying in from Baku. The investigating judge has extended his detention for up to 96 hours to continue questioning. At the end of this period, the judge will decide whether to release him or press charges.
The arrest follows allegations that Durov did not do enough to prevent criminal activity on Telegram. Despite knowing he was wanted, he arrived in Paris on his private jet. Telegram, in a statement, defended its actions, claiming compliance with EU regulations and maintaining that Durov regularly travels across Europe without hiding.
The Russian embassy in Paris has accused France of avoiding cooperation, requesting access to Durov. Russian officials have criticized his decision to leave Russia, suggesting it has complicated his position with international authorities.
Durov left Russia in 2014 after refusing Kremlin demands to shut down opposition groups on VK, a social network he founded. He then focused on Telegram, which has grown into a major platform with 950 million monthly users and is heavily used for sharing news and information, especially about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The app is also known for its encryption and minimal content moderation, making it popular among political figures and controversial groups.
Critics argue Telegram has become a hub for extremists and conspiracy theorists, with little effort to curb hate speech or illegal content. Despite these concerns, the app remains a preferred tool for those seeking privacy and uncensored communication.
After Durov’s arrest, Elon Musk and Tucker Carlson publicly supported him, emphasizing their stance against censorship and promoting the idea of free expression.
Image: DIW-Aigen
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