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Pavel Durov , founder and CEO of messaging app Telegram , was arrest on Saturday evening while leaving his individual jet at France ’s Le Bourget Airport , as initiallyreported by Gallic television web TF1 .
Durov ’s arrest spark widespread treatment and speculation on social media , including on Telegram , though news reports have been largely found on nameless police sources . Ina statement , Telegram said it is “ awaiting a prompt resolution of this situation . ”
A voice for France ’s national anti - fraud office ONAF did not react to a request for comment . The Russian embassy in Francesaidit had asked for an explanation but had not hear back from French authority .
According to TF1 , Durov face a countenance in France based on a preliminary police investigation . The French authorities reportedly lay claim that Telegram ’s want of subject matter moderation and involuntariness to cooperate with jurisprudence enforcement make Durov an confederate to the drug trafficking , money laundering , and sharing of nipper pornography that allegedly occur via the app .
The check will likely fire further debate around the extent to which messaging apps should be retain responsible for for the messages their users share .
In its statement , Telegram said it “ abides by EU law , including the Digital Services Act , ” with moderateness that is “ within manufacture standards and perpetually amend . ” It also fence that it ’s “ absurd to claim that a platform or its proprietor are responsible for abuse of that platform . ”
⚖ ️ Telegram abides by EU practice of law , include the Digital Services Act — its moderation is within industry standard and constantly improving. ✈ ️ Telegram ’s CEO Pavel Durov has nothing to hide and travel frequently in Europe. 😵 💫 It is absurd to claim that a platform or its possessor …
Forbesestimates Durov ’s net worthat $ 15.5 billion . Although accept in Russia , heleft the land in 2014after resisting government pressure sensation to release datum about Ukrainian dissent leaders from his previous social internet VKontakte . Durov now lives in Dubai , where Telegram is found , and his plane was reportedly flying in from Azerbaijan .
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Durov said last calendar month thatTelegram had 950 million active users , with a goal of reaching 1 billion this year . At the same time , the society claim to havearound only 30 engineer — a very modest squad for an app of Telegram ’s scale , probably making Durov even more crucial to the company ’s operation .
This Charles William Post has been updated with statements from Telegram and the Russian embassy in France .
