Pavel Durov, who is the enigmatic chief executive officer (CEO) and co-founder of Telegram, was arrested in France on august 24, 2024. This news is sparking widespread reactions across the world. The authoritative bodies in France are seen to detain the Russian-born tech mogul at Le Bourget Airport near Paris after his arrival on a private jet from Azerbaijan. According to reports, his arrest is associated with serious allegations involving criminal activities on Telegram, which is one of the most popular messaging platforms. Compared to WhatsApp, which only has the capacity to add 1024 members to a group, Telegram has added nearly 200,000 members to a group.
The arrest and its background
Durov, called the dubbed Mark Zuckerberg from Russia, and he was apprehended under an international warrant issued by French authorities. The enquiry leading to his arrest is centred on his alleged failure to prevent Telegram from being used for illegal purposes. There are various allegations charged against him, including cybercrime, drug trafficking, terrorism, and the exploitation of minors or distributing child sexual images. The arrest follows rising apprehensions about the role of the platform in enabling illicit activities, with Telegram being criticised for its laissez-faire approach to content moderation.
The French prosecutor’s office has yet to release a formal statement, but sources indicate that the authorities are focusing on the misuse of the platform by organised crime networks. Telegram has been under inspection for its role in hosting unmoderated content like misinformation, extremism, along with illicit dealings.
What response has been presented by Telegram’s response and defence?
Telegram released a statement disparaging the charges as absurd as a form of response. The company acknowledged its promise to comply with European Union laws and insisted that Durov has nothing to hide. The platform’s content moderation is improving and follows the industry standards. It also focuses on its work to comply with regulations, including the EU’s Digital Service Act that oversees online platforms’ accountabilities.
The figure, Durov, is known for his secretive and rebellious nature and has long positioned himself as a staunch advocate for privacy and free speech. His extraordinary activities to update Telegram have earned the platform a loyal user base but also attracted criticism for failing to curtail the spread of harmful content. Despite ongoing use, Telegram has witnessed bans and restrictions in countries such as Iran and Russia. These restrictions occurred because of its refusal to cooperate with government demands to access the data of the users.
What Durov’s arrest resulted in international fallout?
OMG : It was a trap, Trap Story👇
According to Le Monde, Pavel #Durov met with Emmanuel #Macron several times before obtaining French citizenship. These meetings were even mentioned in #Durov's naturalization application, which allowed him to receive a French passport through a… pic.twitter.com/Iy8L1Jyjsl
— Indian Observer (@ag_Journalist) August 28, 2024It is seen that Durov’s arrest has widely sparked international responses, specifically in Russia. The Russian Embassy in Paris shared a statement which criticises French authorities for not granting consular access to the founder. The officials from the Russian government explained his custody as politically stirred and proof of the West’s double standard on freedom of speech, where they demand clarifications from the French government and guarantee that his rights are shielded. Hear directly from the French President, Emmanuel Macron’s words as he stated, “Durov’s arrest wasn’t a political move but part of an investigation.”
It is observed that despite its roots in Russia, Telegram, in the current phase, has become one of the most interactive platforms in the country, primarily following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in the year 2022. The common people use Telegram, but it is also seen to be used by government agencies, politicians, and ordinary citizens with the objective of sharing raw news and communicating from one border to another. As Durov is arrested, this is perceived as an arrest is an attack on a key pillar of free speech by many people in Russia.
Pavel Durov: the man behind Telegram
Pavel Durov’s rise to prominence began with the founding of VKontakte (VK), which he developed in 2007. It can be said that VK is a new and innovative version of Facebook created by Durov. Sooner or later, he quickly gained a reputation among the Russian citizens for his liberation views and resistance to government interference. In 2013, after selling VK because of mounting pressure from the authorities of Russia, Durov launched Telegram with his brother Nikolai.
Ever since its inception, Telegram as a platform has distinguished itself by prioritising user privacy, featuring encrypted messaging and channels that allow for anonymous communication. This stance, while appealing to privacy advocates and cryptocurrency enthusiasts, has also led to Telegram being exploited by criminals and extremists.
Durov, in his late 30s (aged 39), has been a prioritising figure. He is known for his aversion to state control, and he has lived in self-imposed exile since 2014, holding French and UAE citizenship, before trying out cities like Berlin, Singapore and San Francisco. Even his personal life has been the subject of public fascination. Often photographed in stylish black outfits, he has embraced a persona that seems influenced by the character Neo from The Matrix, which emphasises his vision of fighting against the establishment.
Speculations surrounding Juli Vavilova, Durov’s girlfriend, having a role in his arrest
The woman who accompanied Pavel Durov on his journey that led to his arrest is Juli Vavilova
It's #OSINT time! https://t.co/4ejQfRT8lt pic.twitter.com/asJlUG0Ui5
— Baptiste Robert (@fs0c131y) August 25, 2024While there are speculations going on that Durov’s girlfriend, namely Juli Vavilova could be the reason for his arrest. There is no concrete evidence that Juli directly orchestrated or was responsible for his arrest. Juli is a crypto coach and a streamer based in Dubai. The speculations started from an X post shared by a user named Baptiste Robert, where he captioned, “The woman accompanied Pavel Durov on his journey that led to his arrest in Juli Vavilova.”
The social media enthusiasts believe that her social media activity, particularly Instagram posts from their travels, is more or less responsible, as constant updates through social media posts inadvertently revealed Durov’s location. This aided authorities in his arrest. There is also the likelihood that she could be a part of a set-up or honeytrap, but these remain unsubstantiated rumours without official communication from law enforcement.
Is Durov freed from custody?
On August 28, Pavel Durov was released from police custody on a €5 million bail, as confirmed by French prosecutors. He was detained earlier this week in connection with an ongoing investigation and will now face a court appearance as the legal process unfolds.
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— Free Durov (@FreePDurov) August 28, 2024The arrest had drawn international attention given his high-profile status in the tech industry, along with the widespread usage of Telegram as a secure messaging platform. According to the statement from French prosecutors, Durov was granted bail late Tuesday after being questioned by the police, paying $5.5 million. Particular terms and clauses were not disclosed, but it is understood that they include firm conditions to confirm Durov’s compliance with the ongoing legal proceedings. The dates for his next court appearance have been set following his arrest, although officials did not provide details about the charges he will face concerning Telegram.
The legal team has shown confidence in the outcome, where they stated that Durov intends to fully cooperate with the French legal system with respect to maintaining his commitment to user privacy. “Mr. Durov is resolute in his belief that the principles of privacy and freedom of communication must be upheld. We are confident that the court will recognise these principles during the upcoming hearings”, said a spokesperson of Telegram.
The release of Durov has somewhat alleviated concerns among Telegram users and also the broader tech community, who have been handling the situation. The platform Telegram boasts nearly 1 billion users and has been a faithful advocate of confidentiality and encryption, which finds itself at odds with governments and regulatory bodies demanding access to user data.
Impact of Telegram on Global Communication
Telegram, as a publically used platform, has grown to nearly 1 billion users since its inception in 2013. It also echoes its position as a competitor in global communication. The app gained prominence during protests, political uprisings, as well as wars, for offering an uncensored platform for the free flow of information. The platform is perceived as convenient in nature for sharing live updates during conflicts that are currently going on around the world, but with its openness and liberal features, users often misuse it.
There are governments in countries that have attempted to regulate or ban Telegram. Despite facing these consequences, Telegram remains affirmed to be used in regions where information control is integral. The data of 2023 indicated that Norway’s Parliament, the Storing, officially banned Telegram for MPs on work devices having control. On the contrary, Russia itself unified a 2-year ban on Telegram from 2018 to 2020. Its focus on privacy and resistance to censorship has made it a powerful tool for activists and dissenters, even though facing criticism for giving consent for biased content.
In recent updates, as Pavel Durov’s actions reveal, there could be the possibility in the future that Telegram can be at a stake position. The CEO facing the charges now raise concerns about the accountability of tech companies in moderating content on their platforms. It raises the fundamental question regarding should platform owners should be held accountable for illegal actions which occur within the tech companies’ surroundings.
This concern is not only limited to Telegram, instead it extends to other tech giants such as X and Facebook, as they also have witnessed scrutiny in the past. As the founder is facing charges against content moderation in Telegram, there are chances that it can lead to its ban. The fate of the app in countries that it has access to depends on the findings of the investigations.
