Telegram's Growing Influence
Pavel Durov, the billionaire founder and CEO of the popular messaging platform Telegram, found himself in a precarious situation on Saturday evening when he was arrested at Bourget airport near Paris, according to reports from TF1 TV and BFM TV, which cited unnamed sources.
Telegram, which has carved out a significant niche in regions such as Russia, Ukraine, and the former Soviet republics, ranks among the leading social media platforms globally, alongside giants like Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok. The app is ambitiously targeting a milestone of 1 billion users within the next year.
Founded by Durov, who is originally from Russia and currently resides in Dubai, Telegram has become a vital communication tool, especially since the onset of the Ukraine conflict. Durov’s departure from Russia in 2014 followed his refusal to comply with government demands to dismantle opposition communities on his previous social media venture, VK, which he subsequently sold.
Reports indicate that Durov was traveling on his private plane from Azerbaijan when he was apprehended around 8 PM. The arrest was reportedly linked to a warrant issued in France as part of a preliminary investigation focusing on the platform’s moderation practices. Authorities are concerned that insufficient moderation has allowed criminal activities to proliferate on Telegram.
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov delivers a keynote speech during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, in February 2016. Photo: Reuters
As the situation unfolds, Telegram has yet to provide a comment, and the French interior ministry, along with the police, has remained silent on the matter. The implications of Durov’s arrest extend beyond personal repercussions; they touch upon the broader narrative of Telegram’s role in disseminating information during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The app has emerged as a primary source of unfiltered content, often graphic and misleading, from both Ukrainian and Russian perspectives.
Notably, Telegram has become a favored communication channel for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his administration, while simultaneously serving as a platform for the Kremlin to share its news. It has also become one of the few avenues for Russians to access information regarding the war.
In light of Durov’s arrest, Russia’s embassy in France has stated that it has not been contacted by Durov’s team but is taking immediate steps to clarify the situation. Russian officials, including Mikhail Ulyanov, have criticized France’s actions, suggesting that they reflect a move toward authoritarianism. Ulyanov expressed concerns on social media, warning that individuals who play a visible role in the international information landscape may find themselves at risk when visiting countries with increasingly totalitarian regimes.
In response to the arrest, several Russian bloggers have called for protests outside French embassies worldwide, scheduled for noon on Sunday, highlighting the potential diplomatic tensions that may arise from this incident.
