Islamabad/Paris, March 18: Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of the popular messaging app Telegram, has been permitted to return to his home in Dubai following his arrest in August 2024.
Durov was detained by French authorities for allegedly failing to adequately moderate his platform to reduce criminal activities such as drug trafficking, child sexual abuse material, and fraud.
However, Durov denies the accusations, asserting that Telegram has always worked with law enforcement to address these issues.
This marks the first time a tech leader has faced arrest over criminal activities occurring on their platform. Durov expressed his relief on Telegram, stating: “The process is ongoing, but it feels great to be home.”
Durov, a 40-year-old Russian national, was initially arrested upon arriving in Paris on his private jet.
Although he was initially restricted from leaving France, the Paris prosecutor’s office announced that Durov’s judicial obligations were suspended from March 15 to April 7, allowing him to return to Dubai.
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Further details regarding the conditions of his release have not been disclosed.
Telegram’s Position on Moderation and Cooperation
Telegram, which is used by approximately 950 million people worldwide, has been particularly popular in countries like Russia, Ukraine, and Iran.
While it has built its brand around user privacy, the platform has faced criticism for being a haven for criminals involved in illicit activities, such as cybercrime, fraud, and trafficking in illegal substances.
Following Durov’s arrest, Telegram has taken steps to improve its moderation efforts.
The company has joined the Internet Watch Foundation, a program focused on identifying, removing, and reporting child sexual abuse material.
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Additionally, Telegram now shares the IP addresses and phone numbers of violators with law enforcement when legally requested.
It has also begun publishing transparency reports detailing content removals, which was a practice it had previously resisted.
Despite these measures, Durov and his legal team maintain that the arrest was unjust, stating that Telegram has consistently exceeded its legal obligations when it comes to content moderation and cooperation with authorities.
