French President Emmanuel Macron stated on Monday that the arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov in France was not politically motivated, but rather the result of an ongoing judicial inquiry. Addressing concerns over the arrest, Macron emphasized on X (formerly known as Twitter) that the decision was made by judicial authorities, reiterating that France values freedom of expression, innovation, and enterprise.
Durov was detained Saturday upon landing at Le Bourget Airport near Paris. His arrest is related to several charges, including violations of laws pertaining to drug trafficking, child sexual content, promotion of terrorism, and cyberbullying. French authorities assert that these charges stem from Telegram’s alleged failure to implement adequate moderation measures on its platform, a claim Durov and Telegram refute.
In response to the arrest, Telegram posted a statement on Sunday in support of Durov, asserting that he has “nothing to hide” and that the platform complies with EU laws, including the Digital Services Act. The company insists that its moderation practices meet industry standards and are continually being improved.
This arrest comes amid ongoing challenges for Telegram, renowned for its stringent encryption protocols that often draw both praise and criticism. Critics argue that such security measures facilitate the spread of disinformation and conspiracy theories, as highlighted in this report.
Durov, who fled Russia after refusing government demands regarding his earlier social network VKontakte (VK), co-founded Telegram with his brother Nikolai in 2013. The platform quickly gained popularity for its robust privacy features, which continue to place it at the heart of contemporary debates over cybersecurity and regulatory compliance.
For further details, see the original report on JURIST.