Telegram CEO says he has ‘nothing to hide’ after being arrested in France

“It is absurd to suggest that platforms or platform owners are responsible for abuse of their platforms.” He said in an unnamed statement: Posted on Sunday on the official channel of the Telegram app, French officials Confirmed to Multiple outlets Durov was arrested as part of a police investigation into criminal activity taking place on social networks.

While not encrypted by default, Telegram’s largely hands-off approach to moderation means many see the app as a private, uncensored alternative to other social networks. “Nearly a billion users worldwide use Telegram as a means of communication and a source of important information,” the company said in a statement. “We look forward to a swift resolution to this situation.”

Telegram has also been a significant source of information about the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia, and Russia appears to be quite interested in what happens to Durov. Russian Embassy in Paris Says The French government has so far refused to grant access to Durov, who was born in Russia but holds citizenship in France and the United Arab Emirates, where Telegram is headquartered.

at A rare interview with Tucker Carlson In April, Durov said Telegram’s goal was to be a “neutral” platform and resist government demands for moderation. He said he mostly avoids traveling to “big geopolitical” countries where the company sees “too much attention.” “I travel to places where I’m sure they’re aligned with what we do and our values.”