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Telegram CEO Pavel Durov Arrested in France

Image by TechCrunch, from Flickr

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov Arrested in France

Reading time: 2 min

Updated on Aug 26, 2024

Written by Kiara Fabbri Multimedia Journalist
Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Lead Cybersecurity Editor

French authorities arrested Pavel Durov, founder and CEO of the encrypted messaging app, Telegram, at Le Bourget airport near Paris on Saturday evening. The 39-year-old is scheduled to appear in court on Sunday.

According to Reuters, the arrest stems from a preliminary investigation surrounding the alleged allowing of crimes to take place on the platform due to a lack of moderation.

An official statement by Telegram, which can be seen on the company’s official X account, reads, “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.”

While Telegram has been criticized before for enabling the spread of harmful content, its significance as a crucial information source in regions with heavy censorship is also largely discussed.

The Russian embassy in France has reportedly condemned Durov’s arrest, accusing French authorities of violating his rights and denying consular access, although Durov is a French citizen.

Many have criticized Durov’s arrest as a reflection of Western attempts to control information. Russian lawmaker Maria Butina, who previously served time in a U.S. prison for acting as an unregistered Russian agent, told Reuters, “Pavel Durov is a political prisoner — a victim of a witch-hunt by the West.”

Elon Musk, CEO of the platform X, posted his reaction to the arrest in a post that reads, “POV: It’s 2030 in Europe and you’re being executed for liking a meme.”

Kiara Fabbri

Written by: Kiara Fabbri

Hi, I’m Kiara Fabbri a Tech News Writer at WizCase. I'm a multimedia journalist with a keen interest in innovative and immersive news storytelling. Fluent in three languages—Italian, English, and Spanish—I'm deeply engaged in all facets of news reporting. I am currently undertaking a Ph.D. exploring VR applications in journalism. Following my studies in psychology (BSc) and political psychology (MSc), I embarked on a three-year journey across South America. During this time, I undertook a 4000 km solo bicycle trip from Chile to Brazil. There, I camped, cooked on the road, and volunteered in various facilities. It was during these travels that I discovered my passion for journalism. Subsequently, I pursued a Master's program in journalism innovation and enterprise. My career in journalism has seen me produce VR immersive experiences covering a range of topics. These include documenting an Anti Militaristic raid of a NATO Base, life in the Brazilian Favelas, the recent violent protest clashes in Buenos Aires and finally social projects run by Skaters in the Argentinian ghettos. In addition to my journalistic endeavours, I also practice parkour, a discipline I have cultivated over several years now. I love to make the most of this skill in my journalistic style; for example, it has enabled me to capture dynamic footage from heights during the recent violent clashes in Buenos Aires. There, I scaled heights and employed a long stick on my camera to create aerial 360° views. Through my dedication to pushing the boundaries of journalism, I am committed to amplifying voices, sparking meaningful conversations, and driving positive change in the world.

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