Telegram CEO Pavel Durov was arrested in France on Sunday on charges that he was negligent in controlling criminal activities on Telegram. Durov will be held for interrogation for 96 hours, after which, French authorities will either charge him or release him from custody. Amidst all this, many rumors are spreading about Durov’s arrest and the future of Telegram. One of the most popular of these rumors is that the Telegram app has been allegedly removed from the app store. This is not true, and is only speculation. Some rumors also say that the app will be automatically deleted from the user’s smartphone. This is also not true.

Many users on social media, including X (formerly Twitter), have been spreading rumors about the app being removed from app stores, particularly Apple’s App Store. According to a report by 9To5Mac, users are sharing an old post online, which is presumably from 2021, when the ban on Telegram was lifted in Russia after being blocked in 2018.

On August 25, Telegram CEO Pavel Durov was arrested at Le Bourget Airport, with French authorities accusing him of not taking sufficient measures to prevent illegal activities on the platform. However, Telegram immediately dismissed these accusations as “absurd”, saying that Durov “has nothing to hide” and that the platform complies with EU laws, including the Digital Services Act.

“Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has nothing to hide and frequently travels to Europe. It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner is responsible for the abuse of that platform. Nearly a billion users around the world use Telegram as a means of communication and a source of important information. We are waiting for a speedy resolution of this situation. Telegram is with you all,” the company responded in a post.

The company further added, “Telegram complies with EU laws, including the Digital Services Act – its moderation is within industry standards and is constantly improving.”

The charges against Durov are serious, including claims of fraud, drug trafficking, organized crime, and promoting terrorism and cyberbullying via Telegram. One investigator quoted by The Guardian commented, “Telegram has had enough of impunity.” However, Telegram defended itself, insisting that the platform’s content moderation is in line with industry standards and is constantly improving.

At the heart of the controversy is the debate over content moderation. French authorities believe the lack of it has allowed criminal activity to thrive on Telegram. Despite these serious allegations, Telegram stands by Durov, highlighting his frequent visits to Europe and reaffirming its commitment to legal compliance. The company is now awaiting the outcome of this legal situation, and remains confident in its compliance with the rules.