Telegram CEO Pavel Durov speaks out after arrest, slams authorities for 'misguided approach'

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has issued his first statement following his arrest at Le Bourget Airport near Paris on August 24, 2024. Durov was detained by French authorities amid an investigation into Telegram's alleged lack of content moderation, which they claim has facilitated criminal activities on the platform. In his response, Durov described the accusations as a "misguided approach" and asserted that Telegram is not the "anarchic paradise" some have portrayed.

"Using laws from the pre-smartphone era to charge a CEO with crimes committed by third parties on the platform he manages is a misguided approach," Durov said in a post on Telegram.

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Durov, a Russian-born entrepreneur and the founder of Telegram, expressed surprise at his arrest. He highlighted that Telegram has an official representative in the EU to handle legal requests and emphasized prior cooperation with French authorities, including the establishment of a hotline for terrorism-related issues.

"As a platform, you want your processes to be consistent globally, while also ensuring they are not abused in countries with weak rule of law. We’ve been committed to engaging with regulators to find the right balance," he said.

Durov criticized the notion that a CEO should be held accountable for third-party misuse of their platform. He pointed out instances where Telegram has resisted government demands that conflicted with its principles, citing actions taken in Russia and Iran.

"When Russia demanded we hand over 'encryption keys' to enable surveillance, we refused — and Telegram got banned in Russia. When Iran demanded we block channels of peaceful protesters, we refused — and Telegram got banned in Iran," the statement read.

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Despite acknowledging that Telegram is not without flaws, Durov refuted claims that the platform is a haven for lawlessness. He stressed that Telegram actively moderates harmful content, publishes transparency reports, and maintains direct communication channels with NGOs for urgent issues. He also noted that the rapid growth in Telegram’s user base to 950 million has presented new challenges.

This arrest raises critical questions about the extent to which CEOs can be held responsible for the actions of users on their platforms, particularly when there are existing protocols for legal cooperation. Durov’s statement aims to address these concerns while reiterating his commitment to balancing regulatory engagement with the platform's foundational principles.

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By placing emphasis on these principles and past resistance to overreach by governments, Durov aims to position Telegram as a company striving to navigate complex global legal landscapes responsibly. As the investigation continues, the tech community will be closely monitoring the developments and implications for platform governance and accountability.