Telegram CEO Pavel Durov’s arrest in Paris ignites global debate on freedom of speech

French authorities detained him due to an existing arrest warrant linked to allegations of insufficient moderation on Telegram and lack of cooperation with the police.
Criminal networks in Southeast Asia are increasingly using Telegram to trade hacked data and malware on a large scale, a UN report reveals.

The founder of the Telegram messaging app from Russia, Pavel Durov, was arrested at Le Bourget airport near Paris after landing on a private jet from Azerbaijan. The arrest has sparked broader reactions, with Moscow warning Paris about ensuring Durov’s rights and criticism from X owner Elon Musk, who called the incident an attack on free speech in Europe.

The French authorities allegedly detained Durov based on an arrest warrant related to his involvement in a preliminary investigation and his unwillingness to grant authorities access to his encrypted messaging app, which has over 1 billion users worldwide. In response, Russian officials have demanded consular access, but France, citing Durov’s French citizenship as primary, has remained unresponsive. The Russian Embassy in Paris is seeking an explanation and urging France to protect Durov’s rights.

The investigation concerns Telegram’s alleged role in enabling a wide range of crimes due to insufficient moderation and lack of cooperation with law enforcement. Durov, who allegedly holds several citizenships, including Russian (from the devolution in 1991, previously the Soviet Union from birth), Saint Kitts and Nevis (from 2013), French (from 2021) and UAE (from 2021), may face indictment soon.

Telegram, based in Dubai and widely used across Russia and the former Soviet Union, has faced scrutiny for its role in disseminating unfiltered content, especially during the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Durov, who left Russia in 2014 after refusing to comply with government demands, has consistently maintained that Telegram is a neutral platform committed to user privacy and free speech.

The Russian government has responded to Durov’s arrest with solid criticism. Maria Butina, a Russian lawmaker, labelled him a political prisoner, while former President Dmitry Medvedev criticised Durov for underestimating the global security landscape. However, days before Telegram founder Durov was arrested in France, he was negotiating directly with President Putin to secure his return to Russia after years of self-imposed exile in 2014. Putin allegedly refused to meet with Pavel Durov.

Meanwhile, Telegram’s increasing scrutiny in Europe, particularly over security and data breaches, raises concerns among authorities. Elon Musk’s response to the arrest highlights the broader debate on free speech in Europe, making Durov’s situation a focal point for discussions on the role of tech platforms in geopolitics and the balance between security and freedom.