Telegram Founder Pavel Durov Faces Possible Charges and Custody After Arrest in France

Pavel Durov, the 39-year-old founder and CEO of popular messaging app Telegram, is set to learn Wednesday whether he will face charges and potentially be remanded in custody after his arrest over the weekend by French authorities. Durov was taken into custody at Le Bourget airport outside Paris, where he was reportedly planning to have dinner.

The tech mogul is facing investigation on suspicion of 12 offences related to failing to curb extremist content on Telegram. The probe was confidentially opened on July 8, and Durov has been questioned for 96 hours, which is the maximum detention period allowed under French law.

As the inquiry continues, Durov’s representatives have maintained that he has “nothing to hide” and that Telegram operates within industry standards. The app has positioned itself as a “neutral” alternative to US-owned platforms, which have faced criticism for their commercial exploitation of users’ personal data.

However, critics have accused Telegram of hosting illegal content, including extreme sexual imagery, disinformation, and narcotics services. Telegram has responded by stating that it abides by EU laws, including the Digital Services Act, and that its moderation is within industry standards.

The arrest has sparked a public debate, with French President Emmanuel Macron weighing in to assure that the arrest was not a political decision. “It is up to the judges to rule on the matter,” he wrote in a rare comment on a legal case. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has also spoken out, stating that the charges are serious and require “no less serious evidence.”

Durov, who is a citizen of Russia, France, and the United Arab Emirates, where Telegram is based, was accompanied by a bodyguard and personal assistant during his trip to Paris. He was expected to have dinner in the French capital, a source close to the case said. It is unclear whether Durov has any connections to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was in Baku, Azerbaijan, on a state visit to Azerbaijan on August 18 and 19. Peskov has denied that the two met.

The United Arab Emirates has also commented on the situation, stating that it is “closely following the case” and has requested consular access for its citizen. Fellow tech tycoon Elon Musk has voiced support for Durov, posting comments under the hashtag #FreePavel.

The outcome of Durov’s investigation remains uncertain, but it is clear that the arrest has sparked significant concern and debate about the role of social media in promoting extremist content and the need for robust moderation practices.