Encrypted messaging app Telegram said on Monday that its CEO Pavel Durov – who was arrested in France – has nothing to hide and that “it is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner is responsible for the abuse of that platform.”
In its first reaction after Russian-born Durov was arrested at Le Bourget airport outside Paris after disembarking from a private jet for allegedly failing to prevent criminal activities on Telegram, the company said it complies with EU laws, including the ‘Digital Services Act’.
“Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has nothing to hide and frequently travels to Europe. 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,” said the platform, which has more than 900 million active users.
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 platform has been a vital source of information for the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia. In a rare interview with US political commentator Tucker Carlson in April, Durov said Telegram aims to be a “neutral” platform and resist governments’ requests to be restrained.
If Durov is found guilty, he could face up to 20 years in prison. According to multiple reports, he was arrested on multiple charges, including allegedly spreading criminal activity on Telegram, which has about 900 million active users.
The billionaire lives in Dubai, where Telegram is based, and has dual citizenship of France and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). An entrepreneur with a net worth of at least $15.5 billion, he left Russia in 2014 after refusing to comply with government demands to ban opposition communities on his VKontakte social media platform.
The Russian Embassy in France is taking “urgent steps” to clarify the situation. Telegram offers end-to-end encrypted messaging and users can also set up “channels” to quickly disseminate information to their followers.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
