Pavel Durov Criticizes French Authorities, Suggests They Should Have Contacted Telegram Instead of Detaining Him
#World News
Pavel Durov Criticizes French Authorities, Suggests They Should Have Contacted Telegram Instead of Detaining Him
Loveworld / 2 hours
September 7, 2024
1 min read
Pavel Durov, the founder of the Telegram messaging app, responded publicly for the first time since his August detention in France, asserting that French authorities should have approached Telegram with their concerns rather than detaining him.
In a statement posted on his Telegram channel on September 6, Durov refuted claims that Telegram operates as an “anarchic paradise.” He expressed surprise at the investigation, noting that French authorities had access to a dedicated “hotline” he had established for such issues and could have reached out to Telegram’s EU representative directly.
Durov criticized the use of outdated legal frameworks to prosecute a CEO for crimes committed by third parties on their platform, describing it as a flawed approach. He acknowledged that while Telegram is not without flaws, it actively removes millions of harmful posts and channels daily.
The French investigation into Telegram involves allegations related to child pornography, drug trafficking, and fraudulent transactions. Durov, who is now a French national, emphasized that these claims do not reflect the platform’s operational realities.
