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Journalism of Courage
Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of the popular messaging app Telegram, was arrested at Bourget airport near Paris, according to reports from Al Jazeera.
The 39-year-old Russian entrepreneur was detained while travelling on his private jet from Azerbaijan, with French authorities citing a warrant issued as part of a preliminary investigation.
Durov, who was born in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg, Russia) on October 10, 1984, is a prominent figure in the tech industry.
He initially made his mark by founding VKontakte (VK) in 2006, which quickly became Russia’s largest social network. However, in 2014, Durov was forced to sell his stake in VK under pressure from the Russian government.
In 2013, Durov launched Telegram, an app that has since gained over 500 million active users worldwide, celebrated for its strong focus on privacy, security, and speed.
Known for his unwavering commitment to protecting individual rights, Durov has consistently criticised governments and corporations that attempt to infringe on personal privacy.
His stance against censorship has also been a defining feature of his career, with Telegram being maintained as a free and open communication platform.
The charges against Durov, brought by France’s OFMIN (an agency focused on preventing violence against minors), are severe. They include allegations of fraud, drug trafficking, cyberbullying, and involvement in organized crime.
OFMIN also accuses Durov of neglecting to prevent the harmful use of Telegram, citing a lack of moderators that allegedly allowed criminal activities to flourish on the platform.
An investigator remarked, “Enough of Telegram’s impunity,” expressing surprise that Durov had entered France despite the warrant against him.
Durov faces a possible indictment, with French media outlets TF1 TV and BFM TV reporting that authorities are focusing on the app’s moderation practices.
Meanwhile, the Russian embassy in France has demanded consular access to Durov, insisting that his rights be protected, as reported by Al-Jazeera.
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Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, weighed in on the situation with a sarcastic remark that highlighted growing concerns over censorship in Europe.
“It’s 2030 in Europe and you’re being executed for liking a meme,” Musk quipped, pointing to the potential dangers of eroding free speech rights.
