When Pavel Durov arrived in France last Saturday on his private jet, he was met by police and immediately arrested. His arrest has become a major news story worldwide. As the founder of the messaging app Telegram, he is accused of facilitating serious crimes on the platform. The next day, a French judge extended his detention, allowing police to hold him for up to 96 hours. He was later granted bail under certain conditions. Telegram has denied all allegations against Durov, stating that it is absurd to blame the platform or its owner for its misuse.
Accusations Against Pavel Durov
Pavel Durov, the 39-year-old founder and CEO of Telegram, faces accusations in France for allowing criminal activities on his app. The court found that he failed to prevent the spread of child sexual abuse images, drug trafficking, and other illegal activities on Telegram. Prosecutors in Paris have also accused him of not sharing requested documents and of allowing the spread of child pornography, drug trafficking, fraud, and money laundering.
Pavel Durov’s Background
Pavel Durov, born in 1984 in Russia, also holds French citizenship. He first gained fame by creating Vkontakte, a platform similar to Facebook, which made him known as the “Mark Zuckerberg of Russia.” Durov launched Vkontakte in 2006, but left the company in 2014 due to disputes with its new owners. He then created Telegram, a messaging platform known for its strong encryption, which has made it popular for both communication and illegal activities.
Conditions of Bail
Pavel Durov was granted bail with conditions that he must remain in France and report to the police station twice a week. He must also pay a bail amount of $5.6 million. Telegram, based in Dubai, has stated that Durov has nothing to hide and that the app complies with European laws. They argue that blaming the platform or its owner for misuse is unreasonable.
Debate Over Free Speech
This case has sparked a debate about where free speech ends and law enforcement begins. It highlights the uneasy relationship between governments and Telegram, which has about 1 billion users worldwide. The case serves as a warning to tech giants about the consequences of not cooperating with authorities on alleged illegal activities.
Support for Pavel Durov
Support for Durov has come from prominent figures like Elon Musk and Edward Snowden. Musk posted #FreePavel on X, and Telegram stated that they comply with European Union laws and are awaiting a swift resolution to the case.
Difference Between Telegram and WhatsApp
Telegram is different from WhatsApp in that it is entirely cloud-based and only requires a single ID to log in, while WhatsApp is device-based and requires a phone number. Telegram’s end-to-end encryption and features for sending various types of files contribute to its popularity. It also allows users to maintain anonymity by searching for others by username rather than phone number.
Pavel Durov’s Claims
Pavel Durov has claimed that he has fathered over 100 children as a sperm donor. He mentioned that he signed up to donate sperm 15 years ago at the request of a friend who could not have children.
