In a closely watched development, Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of the popular messaging platform Telegram, has been detained by French authorities, drawing the attention and concern of the United Arab Emirates, where Durov holds citizenship. The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has swiftly acted, reaching out to France with a request for consular services to be made available to Durov, underscoring the nation’s commitment to the welfare of its citizens and their interests abroad.
Durov, born in Russia and also a citizen of France, Russia, and St. Kitts and Nevis, was arrested this past Saturday at Paris-Le Bourget Airport. This arrest is part of a broader judicial inquiry initiated last month by France, looking into 12 alleged criminal violations all tied to the operations of Telegram. These serious charges range from complicity in illegal transactions and refusal to cooperate with law enforcement to grave accusations of involvement in child pornography, narcotics distribution, organized fraud, money laundering, and the illicit provision of cryptographic tools.
The arrest has sparked a wave of concern and outrage among the global crypto community and privacy advocates. Notably, Edward Snowden, a former NSA contractor who became known for his disclosure of classified information, has voiced his disapproval of the detention. In response to the growing backlash, French President Emmanuel Macron has made a statement assuring that the arrest was not politically motivated and reaffirmed France’s dedication to freedom of expression and communication.
Telegram, in its defense, has argued that the notion of holding a platform or its owner accountable for misuse by its users is absurd, maintaining that Durov has “nothing to hide.” Despite the controversy, no charges had been brought against Durov as of Monday afternoon, although French law permits his detention for a period of up to four days for questioning, after which time a decision must be made regarding any charges.
This incident comes at a time when Telegram’s popularity is surging, with Durov recently announcing the platform’s user base has exceeded 950 million, thanks in part to a spike in usage linked to crypto-based games accessible via Telegram’s “mini-apps”. Among these, Hamster Kombat has emerged as a particularly popular game, attracting over 300 million players in the months leading up to its planned token launch and airdrop.
This situation places a spotlight on the broader tensions between tech companies and governments over privacy, freedom of speech, and law enforcement, illustrating the complex web of responsibilities and rights at play in the digital age.