Telegram CEO Pavel Durov Addresses Arrest in France, Criticizes Charges and Promises Platform Improvements

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Pavel Durov, CEO of Telegram, has publicly responded to his recent arrest in Paris, where he faces charges related to the publication of illegal content on the messaging platform. In his first statements since the arrest, Durov described the situation as “surprising” and criticized the charges as “misguided.”

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov Addresses Arrest in France, Promises Platform Changes
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov Addresses Arrest in France, Promises Platform Changes

Pavel Durov, CEO of Telegram, has publicly responded to his recent arrest in Paris, where he faces charges related to the publication of illegal content on the messaging platform. In his first statements since the arrest, Durov described the situation as “surprising” and criticized the charges as “misguided.”

Durov, 39, was detained last month after allegations that Telegram failed to remove illegal content, including child pornography and drug trafficking materials. French authorities also claimed that Telegram had not responded to requests for information on suspicious activities. As a result, Durov was released on bail set at $5.6 million and is required to report to the police station twice a week.

In his remarks, Durov emphasized the challenges of managing a technology platform and argued that CEOs should not be held responsible for potential misuse of their platforms by third parties. He stated, “Using laws from the pre-smartphone era to charge a CEO with crimes committed by third parties on the platform he manages is a misguided approach. Building technology is hard enough as it is. No innovator will ever build new tools if they know they can be personally held responsible for potential abuse of those tools.”

Durov revealed that he was questioned by police for four days and criticized the French authorities for their handling of the situation. He noted that if they needed assistance, they could have reached out through other means, such as “Googling Telegram EU address.”

In response to the criticisms, Durov promised to implement changes to Telegram’s features to enhance efforts against criminal misuse. He acknowledged that while Telegram actively removes millions of harmful posts and channels daily, there are ongoing concerns about the platform’s moderation practices. He also announced the removal of certain features, including the blogging tool Telegraph, to address these concerns.

Durov pointed out that while a tiny fraction of Telegram users are involved in illicit activities, the platform’s image is tarnished by these abuses. He stressed that Telegram is committed to protecting the privacy of its nearly one billion users and will sever ties with any regime that attempts to misuse the app for censorship or surveillance.

In summary, Pavel Durov’s arrest has sparked a broader discussion about the responsibilities of technology CEOs and the challenges of moderating content on large platforms. Durov’s commitment to enhancing Telegram’s features and addressing concerns reflects the ongoing tension between platform governance and user privacy.

Sources By Agencies

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