In First Public Comments Since Arrest, Telegram’s Durov Dismisses Charges as Misguided
Durov criticized French prosecutors for deviating from standard practice by charging him individually instead of targeting the company.
Following his arrest in France, Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of Telegram, publicly addressed the charges against him, asserting that they are unfounded and rejecting the notion that the messaging app fosters an “anarchic paradise.”
Telegram facilitates one-on-one conversations, group chats, and channels involving a large number of individuals, allowing up to 200,000 participants in group chats, in contrast to WhatsApp’s limit of 1,024.
Despite claims that group chats on Telegram have disseminated misinformation, Durov refuted such allegations, emphasizing the app’s diligence in removing harmful content.
Regarding the charges against him, Durov highlighted the misguided approach of French authorities in prosecuting him personally for crimes allegedly committed via the platform he manages, rather than targeting the company itself.
Emphasizing Telegram’s cooperation with law enforcement, Durov maintained that the authorities had ample avenues to address their concerns without detaining him.
Telegram, utilized by extremist groups like ISIS, traffickers, and offenders, has faced criticisms, with Durov clarifying the company’s stance on user privacy in authoritarian regimes.
Durov’s commitment to principles led Telegram to exit markets incompatible with its values, reinforcing the platform’s mission to safeguard users in repressive environments.
Durov’s legal representative in France, David-Olivier Kaminski, denounced the allegations as nonsensical, stressing the illogicality of implicating a social network’s leader in unrelated criminal activities.
Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
