Pavel Durov, the billionaire founder of the Telegram messaging app, was arrested at Bourget Airport near Paris on Saturday evening. He was apprehended while traveling on his private jet from Azerbaijan, following an arrest warrant issued as part of a preliminary police investigation into alleged criminal activities linked to the platform.
Investigation Focus
Kabul24: The investigation centers on claims that Telegram lacks sufficient moderation, enabling criminal activities such as fraud, drug trafficking, and cyberbullying to occur unchecked. Durov is expected to face possible indictment soon.
Telegram’s Influence
With nearly one billion users, Telegram is a major social media platform, especially influential in Russia and Ukraine. It has become a key source of information during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, often criticized for hosting unfiltered and misleading content.
Reactions from Russia
The Russian embassy in France is investigating Durov’s arrest and has called for his release, reflecting concerns over the implications for freedom of expression and the app’s role in disseminating information amid geopolitical tensions.
