Telegram has questioned the grounds for France’s detention of CEO Pavel Durov, the messaging app’s billionaire co-founder who was taken into custody at a Paris airport over the weekend.
Durov, 39, was detained at Le Bourget on Saturday on suspicion of failing to take steps to stop felony use of Telegram, in line with Agence France-Presse. His authentic detention was prolonged by 24 hours late Sunday, a judicial official stated.
Telegram issued an announcement on its platform and on X, previously often called Twitter, saying the Dubai-based firm abides by European legal guidelines, together with the Digital Companies Act, and that Durov has “nothing to cover”.
“It’s absurd to say {that a} platform or its proprietor are answerable for abuse of that platform,” in line with the assertion. “We’re awaiting a immediate decision of this case.”
Durov lives in Dubai and is a citizen of France and the United Arab Emirates, in line with the Telegram web site. He hasn’t beforehand commented on whether or not he has renounced his Russian citizenship.
Russia’s embassy in Paris stated it requested French authorities for an “rationalization of the explanations and demanded that they make sure the safety of his rights and supply consular entry”. Embassy officers are in contact with Durov’s lawyer, in line with the assertion.
France’s Ofmin, an company set as much as fight violence towards minors, issued an arrest warrant for Durov, AFP reported. Ofmin is the coordinating company in a preliminary probe into alleged offences corresponding to fraud, drug trafficking, cyberbullying, organised crime and promotion of terrorism, in line with AFP.
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Toncoin, a cryptocurrency linked to Telegram, sank as a lot as 23% on information that Durov was in custody.
Telegram was created by Durov and his brother Nikolai, a programmer and mathematician. It has about 900 million energetic customers and is likely one of the hottest messaging apps. Its comparatively light-touch method to content material moderation has led to allegations that it’s often used for felony exercise and extremist materials.
The Durov brothers made their fortune from creating the Russia-based social community VKontakte in 2006. That platform shortly turned well-liked amongst Russians, making it a goal for a billionaire with ties to the Kremlin.
Durov fled the nation in 2014 and bought his stake in VKontakte. He has a web price of greater than US$9-billion.
In an interview with former Fox Information host Tucker Carlson in April, Durov mentioned the stress he confronted from Russian authorities whereas working VKontakte and the scrutiny of Telegram by legislation enforcement businesses world wide.
“I’d somewhat be free, I wouldn’t need to take orders from anybody,” Durov stated in the course of the interview. — (c) 2024 Bloomberg LP
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