Pavel Durov Vows Crackdown on Criminal Activity on Telegram Amid French Legal Battle
Facing Allegations:
Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov made his first public remarks after French authorities charged him for allegedly allowing criminal activity on the messaging platform. In a sweeping investigation launched earlier this year, Durov was detained at Le Bourget airport near Paris in late August. After being questioned for four days, Durov was released on €5 million bail and is required to report to a police station twice a week.
French Allegations:
French authorities allege that Telegram has been used for illicit activities, including child sexual abuse material and drug trafficking. Additionally, they claim that the platform has not complied with legal requests for information. Durov, a Russian-born entrepreneur who holds multiple citizenships, including French, is accused of allowing these activities by not cooperating with investigators.
Durov’s Defense:
In a Telegram post, Durov expressed surprise at the charges, stating that he was told he could be held personally responsible for illegal activities committed by users on Telegram. He emphasized that Telegram has an official representative in the European Union, responsible for handling requests from EU authorities, with a public email address for contact. Durov also pointed out that the platform provides contact details for competent authorities to report illegal content.
Durov highlighted that he had previously cooperated with French authorities to establish a hotline addressing terrorism threats. He criticized the legal action against him personally, stating, “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.”
Commitment to Improvement:
Recognizing that the rapid expansion of Telegram’s user base has made it easier for criminals to misuse the platform, Durov pledged to escalate efforts to address these issues. He stated, “I have personally taken on the responsibility to ensure we make significant strides in this area. We have already initiated this process internally.”
Durov committed to keeping the public informed about the platform’s progress, signaling a more proactive approach in combating illegal content. Despite the ongoing investigation, Durov reiterated that Telegram is not an “anarchic paradise” and that significant improvements are already underway.
Moving Forward:
While defending the complexities of managing a platform as large as Telegram, Durov’s public response marks a crucial turning point in his battle with French authorities. His promise to ramp up efforts against criminal activity could signal significant changes in the app’s approach to illegal content in the near future.