Telegram’s cofounder Pavel Durov was arrested on Saturday night, after arriving at an airport several miles north of Paris in a private jet, according to French news outlets BFMTV and TF1 . Both outlets report that the billionaire CEO was the subject of a French search warrant over the app’s lack of moderators, and its alleged use in drug trafficking, money laundering, and the distribution of child abuse material. So far, neither French authorities nor Durov have put out statements on the arrest.
However, Telegram commented on X, formerly Twitter, that “Durov has nothing to hide,” and Russian officials condemned the detainment as an attack on free speech. X owner Elon Musk also posted about moderation and free speech following the reports. A post on Telegram’s X account said the company “abides by EU laws” and its moderation efforts are “within industry standards.
” The post continued, “It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform.” The company added that it is “awaiting a prompt resolution.” Durov was born in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg) and is a naturalized citizen of France and the United Arab Emirates.
Before Telegram, the tech executive cofounded VKontakte, Russia’s answer to Facebook. Durov reportedly sold his stake in VKontakte and left Russia over state censorship demands . Telegram is currently headquartered in Dubai.
In July, Durov announced that he was a sperm donor, had “over 100 bio.