Pavel Durov, the wealthy creator of Telegram, was taken into custody at Bourget airport near Paris on Saturday night, according to French TV channels TF1 and BFM.
Reports state Durov was flying in his private aircraft when detained due to an active warrant. The investigation reportedly focuses on Telegram’s lack of content moderation, potentially enabling illegal activities on the platform.
Telegram, a popular encrypted messaging app with nearly a billion users, is particularly influential in former Soviet countries. It ranks among top social media platforms globally.
Durov, who left Russia in 2014 after refusing government demands to censor content on his previous social network VKontakte, has prioritized user privacy and freedom from interference.
Since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Telegram has become a key information source about the conflict, used by both Ukrainian and Russian officials. It’s also one of few places Russians can access independent war news amid increased media restrictions.
The Russian foreign ministry said it’s investigating Durov’s situation and urged Western NGOs to demand his release.
France and other European countries have scrutinized Telegram over security and data concerns. Russian politicians accused France of acting like a dictatorship – similar to criticism Moscow faced when pressuring Durov in 2014 and attempting to ban Telegram in 2018.
Some public figures, including Elon Musk and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., expressed concerns about free speech following Durov’s reported detention.
