French cyber crime police are questioning Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, on charges that he may be complicit in the illegal use of the platform. The Russian-born CEO was detained by French authorities upon arrival in Paris on a private jet. He faces 12 charges, including refusing to supply information to law enforcement for lawful interceptions and complicity in the platform’s use for illicit activities.
Telegram, which claims to abide by EU laws, issued a statement defending Durov and emphasizing that the platform is used by almost a billion users for communication and information sharing purposes. The arrest has sparked debate on encryption laws in France and raised concerns amongst providers of encrypted messaging services.
French president Emmanuel Macron labelled Durov’s arrest as a judicial matter and not a political move, affirming France’s commitment to freedom of expression and entrepreneurship. Durov, known for founding VK, Russia’s equivalent of Facebook, has faced pressure from governments in the past to disclose user data.
The charges against Durov have generated criticism from the tech community, with some expressing concerns over the extraterritorial nature of the allegations. The use of encryption technology to detect illegal content in messaging services remains a contentious issue, with experts warning about the potential impact on encryption usage.