Telegram’s founder and CEO, Pavel Durov, was arrested by French authorities following a search warrant related to alleged violations involving the encrypted messaging platform. Reports indicate that Durov was detained at Le Bourget airport, near Paris, after arriving from Azerbaijan in his private jet.
The arrest stems from an investigation led by France’s L’Office Mineurs (OFMIN), which oversees crimes against minors. The agency issued a search warrant as part of a probe into several serious allegations against Telegram, including fraud, drug trafficking, cyberbullying, and organized crime. These accusations are reportedly linked to Telegram’s alleged failure to adequately moderate content on its platform.
Durov’s arrest has sent shockwaves through the tech community, with notable figures like Tesla’s Elon Musk and Ethereum’s Vitalik Buterin expressing concern. Musk shared an interview between Durov and Tucker Carlson, tagging it with #FreePavel, while Buterin commented on the potential threat this case poses to software and communication freedom in Europe.
Despite Durov’s arrest, The Open Network (TON), a blockchain protocol integrated into Telegram, announced that its operations remain unaffected. The TON community has rallied in support of Durov, emphasizing their commitment to free speech and decentralization.
Questions are now being raised about Telegram’s privacy practices, with critics highlighting concerns over its encryption standards. As investigations continue, the future of Telegram and its stance on user privacy hang in the balance. Telegram has yet to release an official statement regarding the arrest.