New information has come to light regarding the relationship between French President Emmanuel Macron and Telegram founder Pavel Durov, providing context to Durov’s recent arrest in Paris. According to The Wall Street Journal, Macron met with Durov in 2018 and offered him the opportunity to relocate Telegram’s headquarters to Paris. During this meeting, Macron also discussed granting Durov French citizenship. While Durov declined the relocation offer, he did eventually receive French citizenship in 2021.Perhaps more significantly, it has been revealed that in 2017, a year before the meeting with Macron, French and UAE intelligence agencies jointly conducted an operation codenamed ‘Purple Music’ to hack Durov’s iPhone. This operation was reportedly motivated by concerns that terrorist groups, particularly ISIS, were using Telegram for recruitment and attack planning.These revelations add a new dimension to Durov’s recent detention at Paris’s Le Bourget airport on August 24, 2024. The Telegram founder faces 12 charges related to alleged inaction against crimes committed on the platform, including drug trafficking, cybercrimes, and money laundering. Durov’s team maintains that it is ‘absurd’ to hold the platform or its owner responsible for user misuse.The case has sparked international debate, with Russian officials, including Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, suggesting that French authorities may have arrested Durov to gain access to Telegram’s encryption codes. Meanwhile, some, like Russian State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, have speculated about U.S. involvement, framing the arrest as part of broader efforts to control social media.As the investigation continues, these new details highlight the complex interplay between technology, national security, and international relations in the digital age. The case raises important questions about platform responsibility, user privacy, and the extent of government authority in regulating global communication platforms.
Key points
- Macron offered Durov to relocate Telegram’s HQ to Paris in 2018, which Durov declined.
- French and UAE intelligence agencies hacked Durov’s iPhone in 2017 due to concerns about Telegram’s use by terrorist groups.
- Durov faces 12 charges related to alleged inaction against crimes on Telegram, sparking international debate.
Contradictions👾While some sources claim Durov was invited to Paris by Macron for dinner on the day of his arrest, the Elysée Palace has refused to confirm these claims.
