Pavel Durov, the CEO of messaging app Telegram, has been arrested in France. The investigation is focused on crimes such as child pornography, drug trafficking, and fraudulent transactions linked to the app, which has 950 million users.
Durov has been released on €5 million bail and must report to the police twice a week. He has pledged to improve the safety of the platform.
Durov criticizes the French authorities for not contacting Telegram and instead arresting him. He denies that Telegram is an 'anarchic paradise' and states that the company removes millions of harmful posts and channels daily.
The arrest has sparked a debate about free speech and government censorship. In response to the arrest, Telegram has quietly updated its policy to allow users to report private chats to moderators.
Durov acknowledges that the rapid growth of Telegram has enabled criminal abuse but is committed to making significant improvements. He is prepared to leave France if no agreement is reached with the authorities.
The arrest has had an impact on Toncoin, the cryptocurrency linked to Telegram, which dropped 20%. Despite the arrest, Telegram remains a crucial source of information for the Ukraine war.
Durov's arrest highlights the challenges faced by social media platforms in balancing privacy and security.
