Telegram backs arrested CEO Pavel Durov, says has ‘nothing to hide’

Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov was arrested in Paris late on August 24.

Telegram has come to the defence of its founder and chief executive officer Pavel Durov after his arrest in France over the weekend, saying the messaging platform has "nothing to hide" and it is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for its abuse.

The Russia-born billionaire has been detained over allegations related to the app’s moderation practices, reports said.

Telegram abides by EU laws, including the Digital Services Act, and that its moderation is "within industry standards and constantly improving", the company, which has often faced scrutiny over the content that is shared on the platform, said in statement on August 26.

"Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has nothing to hide and travels frequently in Europe. Almost a billion users globally use Telegram as a means of communication and as a source of vital information. We’re awaiting a prompt resolution of this situation. Telegram is with you all," the statement said addressing its users. "It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform."

According to reports, Durov was arrested from Le Bourget airport outside Paris after landing on a private jet late on August 24 for allegedly failing to prevent criminal activities on Telegram, including drug trafficking, distribution of child sexual content, and fraud.

Authorities have criticised Telegram for insufficient cooperation with law enforcement in curbing illegal activities.

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The 39-year-old tech billionaire now resides in Dubai and holds dual citizenship of the United Arab Emirates and France.

After it was founded in 2013, Telegram has gained significant popularity, particularly in Russia, Ukraine and other former Soviet states.

Durov left Russia in 2014 after resisting government demands to shut down opposition groups on his earlier social media platform, VKontakte.

Telegram has a strong user base, even with past clashes with Russian authorities. The app was banned in Russia in 2018 due to non-compliance with data-sharing demands but was allowed back in 2021, reports said.

Following Durov’s detention, the Russian embassy in France announced its efforts to clarify the situation and protect Durov’s rights, despite no official request from his representatives.

The embassy criticised French authorities for not cooperating in providing consular access.

Telegram has faced criticism for its moderation policies, which some argue allow the spread of misinformation and extremist content.

The app’s ability to host large groups has raised concerns about its role in facilitating illegal activities.

In the UK, Telegram was scrutinised for hosting far-right channels linked to recent violent unrest. While Telegram has taken action to remove some problematic groups, experts argue that its overall moderation efforts remain weaker than those of other major social media platforms.