In a lengthy Telegram message, his first reaction after his arrest, Pave Durov called it “surprising” to be held accountable for content posted by other people. “Using pre-smartphone laws to accuse a CEO of 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 anarchist paradise,” calling them “absolutely false.” “We remove millions of malicious messages and channels every day,” he insisted.
Durov denied France’s accusations that Paris had not received answers from Telegram to its requests. The Russian said he personally helped French authorities “create a hotline with Telegram to address the terrorist threat in France.” Taking a more conciliatory tone at the end of his message, Durov acknowledged that the sharp increase in Telegram’s user base — which he now estimates at 950 million worldwide — had created a situation that had “made it easier for criminals to abuse our platform.” “That’s why I have set myself a personal goal to ensure that things improve significantly in this regard,” he promised, adding that the issue was being analyzed “internally” and that more details would be announced 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,” he said. He concluded that if Telegram could not find an agreement with local regulators on “the right balance between privacy and security,” then “we would be ready to leave the country.”
#Surprising #arrest #presmartphone #laws #Tempo
2024-09-06 14:06:12
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov Speaks Out on Arrest and Content Moderation
In a surprising turn of events, Telegram CEO Pavel Durov was arrested and later released on bail, sparking controversy and debate over the platform’s content moderation policies. In a lengthy Telegram message, Durov broke his silence on the matter, addressing the French authorities’ accusations and shedding light on the company’s efforts to combat malicious activity on the platform.
A Misguided Approach
Durov expressed surprise at being held accountable for content posted by third parties on the platform, calling it a “misguided approach” to use “pre-smartphone laws” to accuse a CEO of crimes committed by others. The 39-year-old billionaire emphasized that Telegram removes millions of malicious messages and channels every day, dispelling claims that the platform is an “anarchist paradise.”
Cooperation with French Authorities
Contrary to French authorities’ claims, Durov denied that Paris had not received answers from Telegram to its requests. In fact, he revealed that he personally helped French authorities create a hotline with Telegram to address the terrorist threat in France.
A Growing Concern
Durov acknowledged that the sharp increase in Telegram’s user base, which now estimates 950 million worldwide, had created a situation that had “made it easier for criminals to abuse our platform.” He took a conciliatory tone, promising to improve the platform’s content moderation and announcing that the issue was being analyzed “internally,” with more details to be announced in the future.
A Personal Goal
In a rare display of introspection, Durov set a personal goal to ensure that things improve significantly in terms of content moderation on Telegram. His commitment to addressing the issue head-on marks a significant shift in the company’s approach to dealing with malicious activity on the platform.
The Bigger Picture
The controversy surrounding Durov’s arrest highlights the ongoing struggle between tech companies and governments to balance free speech with online safety. As social media platforms continue to grow in influence, it is crucial for companies like Telegram to prioritize content moderation and work closely with authorities to prevent the spread of harmful content.
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Telegram CEO Pavel Durov speaks out on his arrest and the platform’s content moderation policies. Read his latest statement on the company’s efforts to combat malicious activity and his personal goal to improve online safety.
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H1: Telegram CEO Pavel Durov Speaks Out on Arrest and Content Moderation
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H2: The Bigger Picture
