Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of Telegram, has broken his silence following his detention in France, offering a critical perspective on the French authorities’ actions and outlining plans for Telegram’s future. Durov was held and questioned by French police for four days after arriving in Paris last month, facing potential charges related to illegal activities conducted on the Telegram platform.In his statement, Durov expressed surprise at the French authorities’ approach, stating, ‘It is a wrong approach to use laws from the pre-smartphone era to accuse a CEO of the platform for the crimes committed by the individuals using the platform’. He emphasized that Telegram has been cooperating with EU authorities, including those in France, and that there were multiple ways for French officials to contact him or the company.Durov revealed that Telegram’s user base has grown to 950 million, acknowledging that this rapid expansion has made the platform more susceptible to misuse by malicious actors. In response, he announced plans to improve Telegram’s security measures, stating, ‘I have set myself the personal goal of significantly improving the situation in this regard. We have already started this process internally, and I will soon share with you more detailed information about our progress’.The Telegram founder also addressed claims that the platform is an ‘anarchic paradise,’ calling them ‘absolutely false’ and stating that his team removes ‘millions of harmful publications and channels’ every day. However, he maintained that finding the right balance between privacy and security remains a challenge.Durov emphasized Telegram’s commitment to its principles, stating that the company is willing to leave markets that are incompatible with its values, citing past examples of the app being banned in Russia and Iran. He expressed hope that the recent events would lead to Telegram and the entire social media industry becoming ‘safer and stronger’.While Durov has been released on a €5 million bail, he is required to remain in France and report to the police twice weekly as legal proceedings continue. The case continues to raise questions about the responsibilities of tech platforms and the challenges of regulating global digital services.
Key points
- Pavel Durov criticized French authorities for detaining him and potentially holding him responsible for users’ illegal activities on Telegram.
- Telegram’s user base has grown to 950 million, leading to increased platform misuse and prompting security improvements.
- Durov emphasized Telegram’s commitment to balancing privacy and security, stating willingness to exit markets incompatible with its principles.
Contradictions👾While Durov claims Telegram always responds to EU requests, French authorities reportedly detained him due to lack of response from Telegram.
