Telegram CEO Pavel Durov Criticizes Arrest, Calls Legal Action Against Him “Misguided”

Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov has condemned his recent arrest in France, describing the charges against him as a “misguided approach.” In his first statement since the arrest last month, Durov expressed surprise at the actions taken by French authorities, claiming they were holding him responsible for crimes committed by third parties on Telegram.

Durov stated that using outdated laws to charge a CEO for the actions of users on his platform was not only surprising but also inappropriate. He revealed that he had been questioned by French police for four days after arriving in Paris and was informed that he might be held personally accountable for Telegram users’ illegal activities because French authorities hadn’t received timely responses from the platform.

“It’s surprising because Telegram has an official EU representative that handles law enforcement requests. Its email address is publicly available,” Durov said, adding that French authorities could have easily contacted him through official channels.

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As a French citizen and frequent visitor to the nation’s consulate in Dubai, Durov emphasized that he had previously collaborated with French authorities, even helping set up a hotline to address terrorism threats. He criticized the decision to target him personally rather than pursuing legal action against the platform itself.

“Charging a CEO using pre-smartphone era laws for third-party activities on a platform is a misguided approach. It discourages innovation, as no one will create new tools knowing they could be held liable for potential misuse,” Durov argued.

He also addressed the broader challenges faced by tech platforms in balancing privacy and security, noting that Telegram has remained committed to working with regulators. However, when regulatory demands clash with the company’s principles, Durov said they are prepared to withdraw from those markets, citing past examples in Russia and Iran where Telegram was banned for refusing to comply with government surveillance and censorship requests.

Durov acknowledged that improvements were needed in Telegram’s communication with authorities, following confusion over how to send requests. However, he rejected claims that the platform is unregulated, stating that millions of harmful posts are removed daily, with Telegram publishing regular transparency reports.

In closing, Durov highlighted the platform’s recent internal efforts to prevent criminal misuse, promising further updates on Telegram’s progress. He expressed hope that the events of August would lead to a stronger, safer social networking environment for all users.