The CEO of the messaging app Telegram, Pavel Durov, was taken into custody in France. At Le Bourget Airport, which is located outside of Paris, the 39-year-old Durov was taken into custody on Saturday night. Reuters First reported that Durov, who was travelling in his private plane, was reportedly held because of an arrest warrant that was obtained in France as part of an ongoing police investigation.
According to reports from French broadcasters TF1 TV and BFM TV, the probe focusses on Telegram’s lack of content control and how it may have enabled illegal activity to continue unchecked on the platform. According to French media, Durov might be charged as early as Sunday. Investor and curator of X material Mario Nawfal stated that Durov “may face up to 20 years in prison.” Telegram’s lack of content filtering and his unwillingness to assist French law authorities are the reasons behind his arrest. With almost one billion users encrypted messages.
