Telegram CEO Pavel Durov Arrested in France, FBI Issues Arrest Warrant

Sep 6, 2024, 12:07 PM

Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of Telegram, has been prohibited from leaving France until March 2025 following his arrest under an archaic French cyber law. This law mandates that companies offering cryptology tools must notify France’s ANSSI cybersecurity agency and maintain a description of the technical characteristics and source code of the tools. Durov was released on a €5 million bail, with €1 million paid immediately and the remaining €4 million to be paid in installments. Following his arrest, Telegram has updated its FAQ page, removing language that previously stated all chats are private and not subject to moderation. The platform now allows users to report illegal content in private chats. Durov has vowed to improve moderation on the platform and stated that Telegram is prepared to exit markets that are incompatible with its principles. The FBI has also issued an arrest warrant for Durov, raising questions about potential extradition to the USA.