Pavel Durov, the founder of the popular messaging application Telegram, has provided an update on his ongoing case in France, stating that the criminal law investigation against him is struggling to find evidence of misconduct. Durov’s arrest by French authorities in August 2024 was deemed “unprecedented” by the entrepreneur, who emphasized that holding a technical manager accountable for the actions of independent users is “illogical and unjustified.”
Durov took to Telegram to express his concerns, stating: “A year later, the ‘criminal investigation’ is still struggling to find something that I or Telegram has done wrong. Our moderation practices are in line with industry standards, and Telegram has always responded to every legally binding request from France.” He also expressed frustration at being required to return to France every 14 days without a court date in sight, warning that the French government’s actions have irreparably damaged France’s reputation as a free country.
Source: Pavel Durov
The arrest of Durov sparked widespread outrage from the crypto community, human rights groups, and freedom of speech advocates, who accused the French government of censoring the platform and arresting its founder under pressure. The incident has raised concerns about the limits of government control over online content and the importance of protecting user privacy.
Pavel Durov’s Arrest and its Aftermath
Durov was charged and initially barred from leaving France in connection with an investigation into Telegram’s content moderation guidelines. French law enforcement officials accused the platform of hosting harmful content, prompting a wave of criticism from the crypto community and human rights groups.
French President Emmanuel Macron denied that the arrest was politically motivated, which triggered a stream of censorship allegations and criticism from the crypto community. In response to Macron’s statement, Mert Mumaz, CEO of Node provider Helius, asked: “Why are you not personally in prison because you don’t control 100% of all crime in France?”
Telegram’s Commitment to User Privacy
Durov has repeatedly stated that Telegram meets all legal law enforcement inquiries and will leave jurisdictions before succumbing to censorship pressure. The platform does not compromise user privacy by transferring encryption keys or building backdoors into the messaging application, according to Durov.
As the case against Durov continues, it remains to be seen how the French government will balance its concerns about online content with the need to protect user privacy and freedom of speech. The incident has highlighted the importance of ensuring that governments do not overstep their authority in regulating online platforms.
For more information on Pavel Durov’s case and its implications for the crypto community, visit https://cointelegraph.com/news/pavel-durov-case-going-nowhere-slams-french-gov
