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Telegram Founder Pavel Durov Arrested in France, Released on €5 Million Bail, Promises Moderation Changes

Sep 5, 2024, 05:09 PM

Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of Telegram, was arrested in France on August 24, 2024, for allegedly enabling illegal activities on his platform and refusing to provide backdoor access to Telegram. He was interrogated for four days. The arrest has sparked significant controversy, with the Kremlin and privacy advocates criticizing the French authorities' actions. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that Durov's 'too free' approach to running Telegram led to his issues. Durov was released on a €5 million bail and is prohibited from leaving France until March 2025. He is currently searching for a home in Paris and was seen with Yulia Vavilova. The FBI has also issued an arrest warrant for him. Durov has publicly criticized the arrest as 'misguided' and emphasized that the French authorities should have addressed their concerns to his company rather than detaining him. Following the arrest, Telegram has updated its policies to allow users to report illegal content in private chats, a significant shift from its previous stance. Durov has pledged to improve moderation on the platform. The United Nations has also raised human rights concerns regarding the charges against Durov.