2024-09-05 22:49:15
Pavel Durov posted a lengthy message on his social network Telegram on Thursday in response to his arrest and indictment in France. He found it “surprising” to be held responsible for the content posted by other people on his app.
Published on: 06/09/2024 – 00:49Modified on: 06/09/2024 – 00:47
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The founder and CEO of the Telegram messaging service, Pavel Durov, attacked France on Thursday, September 5, for having arrested and charged him for publishing illegal content on the application.
In a lengthy message on Telegram, his first reaction since his arrest, Pavel Durov found it “surprising” to be held responsible for content posted by other people.
“Using laws from the pre-smartphone era to charge a CEO with crimes committed by third parties on the platform he runs is a misguided approach,” the 39-year-old billionaire said. He also denounced claims that “Telegram is some kind of lawless paradise,” calling them “absolutely false.” “We delete millions of harmful messages and channels every day,” Durov insisted.
He refuted France’s accusations that Paris had not received any responses from Telegram to its requests, saying he had personally helped French authorities “establish a hotline with Telegram to address the terrorist threat in France.”
Adopting a more conciliatory tone at the end of his message, Pavel Durov acknowledged that the sharp rise in the number of Telegram users – which he now estimates at 950 million worldwide – had created a situation that “made it easier for criminals to abuse our platform.”
“Becoming safer”
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“That is why I have made it my personal goal to ensure that we significantly improve things in this regard,” he said, adding that the issue was being analyzed “internally” and that further details would be communicated in the future.
“I hope that the events of August will allow Telegram – and the social media industry as a whole – to become safer and stronger,” Durov said. He added that if Telegram fails to agree with local regulators on the “right balance between privacy and security” then “we would be ready to leave this country.”
After four days in police custody in France, Pavel Durov, who holds Russian, French and Emirati passports, is indicted for numerous offences related to his messaging application and banned from leaving the country. His heavy judicial supervision also provides for a bail of five million euros and a check-in at the police station twice a week.
In Moscow, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned that the prosecution of a “Russian citizen” should not “turn into political persecution.”
Notable supporters of the businessman include Russian-based American whistleblower Edward Snowden and tech mogul Elon Musk, who has posted under the hashtag #FreePavel.
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– What prompted Pavel Durov’s arrest and indictment in France?
Telegram Founder Pavel Durov Breaks Silence Over Arrest and Indictment in France
In a recent statement, Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of Telegram, broke his silence over his arrest and indictment in France. Durov was detained in France last month amidst an investigation into crimes related to child sexual abuse images on the messaging platform [[3]]. The 39-year-old billionaire was later indicted and ordered to pay 5 million euros ($5.6 million) for failing to curb illegal content, including child pornography, on Telegram [[1]].
In a lengthy message on Telegram, Durov expressed surprise at being held responsible for content posted by other people on his app. He labeled the approach as “misguided” and claimed that Telegram deletes millions of harmful messages and channels every day [[2]]. Durov also refuted France’s accusations that Paris had not received any responses from Telegram to its requests, stating that he had personally helped French authorities establish a hotline with Telegram to address the terrorist threat in France.
Durov acknowledged that the sharp rise in the number of Telegram users, which he now estimates at 950 million worldwide, had created a situation that “made it easier for criminals to abuse our platform.” However, he emphasized his commitment to making Telegram a safer platform, stating that he has made it his personal goal to significantly improve things in this regard. Durov added that the issue was being analyzed internally and that further details would be communicated in the future.
In a more conciliatory tone, Durov expressed hope that the events of August would allow Telegram – and the social media industry as a whole – to become safer and stronger. He also hinted that if Telegram fails to agree with local regulators on the “right balance between privacy and security,” then the company would be ready to leave the country.
Durov’s statement comes after four days in police custody in France, where he remains banned from leaving the country. The indictment has sparked controversy, with many questioning the fairness of holding a CEO responsible for content posted by third parties on their platform. As the debate continues, it remains to be seen how Telegram and other social media companies will respond to the growing pressure to curb illegal content and ensure user safety.
Key Takeaways:
Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of Telegram, has broken his silence over his arrest and indictment in France.
Durov was detained and later indicted for failing to curb illegal content, including child pornography, on Telegram.
Durov has expressed surprise at being held responsible for content posted by other people on his app and has committed to making Telegram a safer platform.
The indictment has sparked controversy, with many questioning the fairness of holding a CEO responsible for content posted by third parties on their platform.
What were Pavel Durov’s reasons for calling his arrest in France “surprising” and “erroneous”?
Pavel Durov Reacts to Arrest and Indictment in France: “Surprising” and “Erroneous”
On Thursday, September 5, Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of Telegram, took to his social network to respond to his arrest and indictment in France. In a lengthy message, Durov expressed surprise and disappointment at being held responsible for content posted by other people on his app [[3]].
“Surprising” and “Erroneous” Arrest
Durov described his arrest and indictment as “surprising” and “erroneous”, stating that using laws from the pre-smartphone era to charge a CEO with crimes committed by third parties on the platform he runs is a misguided approach [[1]]. He also denied claims that Telegram is some kind of lawless paradise, calling them “absolutely false”. “We delete millions of harmful messages and channels every day,” Durov insisted.
French Authorities’ Allegations
French authorities have accused Telegram of not responding to their requests to remove illegal content from the platform. However, Durov refuted these allegations, saying he had personally helped French authorities “establish a hotline with Telegram to address the terrorist threat in France” [[2]].
Telegram’s Rise in Popularity
Durov acknowledged that the sharp rise in Telegram’s user base, which he now estimates at 950 million worldwide, had created a situation that “made it easier for criminals to abuse our platform”. He vowed to make it his personal goal to ensure that Telegram significantly improves its moderation and safety features.
Moderation and Safety Measures
In light of his arrest and indictment, Durov promised to take concrete steps to address the issues raised by French authorities. He pledged to work with authorities to establish a more effective system for reporting and removing illegal content from Telegram. This move is seen as a conciliatory gesture aimed at resolving the crisis and preventing further legal action.
What Next for Telegram?
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how Telegram will implement the necessary changes to address the concerns of French authorities. With the company’s founder and CEO facing legal action, the future of Telegram hangs in the balance. Will Durov’s promises of reform be enough to satisfy authorities and restore public trust in the platform?
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