Pavel Durov, Founder And CEO Of Telegram, Arrested In Paris: Debate About Free Speech

When there is a first time, there will be a second time, and more.

According to reports, Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of Telegram, was detained at a Paris airport on allegations that his encrypted messaging app facilitated criminal activities.

An arrest warrant was issued in France for Durov, with charges stem from accusations that he failed to moderate content on Telegram and did not cooperate with law enforcement agencies.

The 39-year-old self-made billionaire was apprehended on the tarmac of Paris-Le Bourget Airport, soon after he landed in France.

Pavel Durov is the CEO and the founder of Telegram, an extremely popular messaging platform.

Originally, Telegram boasted privacy and security. But as end-to-end encryption on messaging apps became a norm, Telegram remains unique as it's one of the the rare platforms that isn't backed by any commercial entities that thrive on user data as commodity.

Because of this Telegram, which has about 900 million users, has become a crucial platform for disseminating information about anything, ranging from the war in Ukraine and is reportedly used by various military units for communication.

And this time, the 39-year-old had been detained under a warrant for offences related to the popular messaging app and its usage.

Due to the company's firm stance against censorship, Telegram has cemented itself as the most popular messaging platform in countries where freedom of speech is curtailed, such as Russia, Iran and India.

Telegram is also very popular in Ukraine, where it has become a vital tool for sharing news about the war and warnings about air raids.

The platform is also favored by White supremacists and terror groups including ISIS.

What's more, the app's high-level encryption and limited oversight on what its users post, makes it highly susceptible to disinformation, conspiracy theories, hate and other harmful content.

Because of these, Telegram becomes known for its notoriety of being the facilitator of money laundering, drug trafficking and also the spread of pedophilic content

And because Durov positions himself as the supporter of free speech, the government is charging him with complicity in various of crimes.

The 39-year-old billionaire was detained soon after his private jet landed after arriving from Azerbaijan.

The arrest of Pavel Durov signals France’s increasing efforts to address the issue of inadequate moderation on platforms like Telegram.

European Union regulators have also intensified their scrutiny of tech giants, implementing a series of new laws aimed at regulating their operations more closely.

In 2024, heightened concerns over foreign disinformation and interference in European elections led EU officials to launch investigations into Meta and establish specialized agencies to combat disinformation, particularly from Russian sources.

Durov’s arrest has drawn criticism from prominent anti-censorship advocates, including Elon Musk and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The arrest raises significant questions about whether tech executives should be held accountable for the content on their platforms.

Telegram has called this notion “absurd” in a statement defending its CEO.

"Telegram's CEO Pavel Durov has nothing to hide and travels frequently in Europe. It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform. We’re awaiting a prompt resolution of this situation. Telegram is with you all," Telegram said in a statement.

The Russian Embassy in Paris confirmed Durov’s detention, and said it was in contact with the entrepreneur’s attorney.

Musk expressed support for Durov by posting “#FreePavel” on his social media platform X, along with a video of Durov on Tucker Carlson’s show, where the Telegram founder praised X for its more open moderation policies under Musk.

Kennedy Jr. also weighed in.

Through his account on X, he sated that, “France just arrested Pavel Durov, founder & CEO of the encrypted, uncensored Telegram platform. The need to protect free speech has never been more urgent.”

Durov rose to prominence when he founded VKontakte, the social network that quickly became one of Russia’s most popular social networking sites, the platform that is often referred to as "the Facebook of Russia" due to its similar functionality and widespread use.

As VK's popularity grew, so did its conflicts with the Russian government.

The authorities pressured Durov to hand over user data and restrict content that they considered politically sensitive or subversive.

When Durov refused to comply with these demands, citing his commitment to user privacy and freedom of expression, his stance put him at odds with the Russian government and security services.

In 2014, as government pressure intensified, Durov was forced to sell his stake in VKontakte, ending the era of the social media.

The sale was reportedly orchestrated by people connected with the Kremlin.

Durov's departure from VK was driven by his unwillingness to comply with governmental demands to censor content and provide user data.

After leaving VK, Durov moved abroad.

He initially resided in various countries but eventually settled in Dubai. His departure from Russia was largely influenced by his refusal to cooperate with Russian authorities and his desire to continue his work in an environment with fewer restrictions on free speech.

Following his departure from Russia, Durov focused on developing Telegram, which has since become known for its strong privacy features and resistance to government censorship, continuing Durov’s commitment to user privacy and freedom of expression.

It's worth noting that Durov was not alone when he was apprehended in Paris.

When the Telegram’s founder was detained at Le Bourget airport, reports indicate that he was with Yulia Vavilova.

The 24-year-old cryptocurrency coach and streamer from Dubai, believed to be Durov's girlfriend, has frequently been seen with Durov, in places like Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Azerbaijan.

As well as on the private jet they traveled on.

Some of those moments were shared on her Instagram.

Due to how secretive Durov is, many believe that Vavilova could either be involved in Telegram, or involved in leading the authorities right to him.

Some people wonder whether she might be the one who orchestrated the entire thing.