Telegram's CEO Pavel Durov Speaks on Recent Events in France

Pavel Durov, founder of Telegram and a UAE citizen, was arrested at Le Bourget airport outside Paris on Saturday, August 24, shortly after landing on a private jet. French authorities initiated the arrest due to concerns about Telegram’s role in illegal activities facilitated through its platform. Durov, known for his firm stance on privacy and user protection, faced a four-day interrogation before being formally charged on August 28 with 12 offenses, including “complicity in managing an online platform for illicit transactions” and “refusal to provide authorities with information or documents required for legal interceptions.”

Durov shared his perspective on the situation in a Telegram message, highlighting several key points.

Durov’s Response to the Arrest and Investigation

In his message, Durov expressed surprise over the charges, outlining why the arrest and investigation were unwarranted. He emphasized three main reasons:

1. Telegram's Official EU Representative
   Telegram has an official representative in the European Union who handles legal requests from EU authorities. Durov pointed out that the email address for this representative is publicly available and easily accessible for law enforcement agencies.

2. Personal Connections with French Authorities
   As a French citizen and frequent visitor to the French consulate in Dubai, Durov had direct communication with French authorities. He even assisted in setting up a hotline between Telegram and France to combat terrorism-related issues. Despite this, he was never approached directly before the arrest.

3. Legal Missteps by French Authorities
   Durov criticized the French authorities for using outdated laws to charge him personally for third-party activities on Telegram. He argued that holding a CEO accountable for users' misuse of a platform stifles innovation and places an unreasonable burden on tech developers. According to Durov, a country’s dissatisfaction with a service should be addressed through legal action against the platform, not its leadership.

The Challenge of Balancing Privacy and Security

Durov acknowledged the difficulty of balancing privacy and security, especially in a world with varying laws and technological challenges. He reaffirmed Telegram’s commitment to engaging with regulators worldwide to find this balance while staying true to its mission of protecting users’ rights, particularly in authoritarian regimes.

Despite disagreements with some countries, Durov stressed that Telegram has always been open to dialogue. However, when the platform's principles clash with a country’s laws, they are ready to exit that market. Durov cited past examples, like when Telegram was banned in Russia for refusing to provide encryption keys and in Iran for refusing to block peaceful protest channels.

I'm still trying to understand what happened in France. But we hear the concerns. I made it my personal goal to prevent abusers of Telegram's platform from interfering with the future of our 950+ million users.

My full post below. https://t.co/cDvRSodjst

— Pavel Durov (@durov) September 5, 2024

Addressing Platform Misuse and Improving Transparency

Durov admitted that Telegram is not perfect and acknowledged that authorities might sometimes be unclear on where to send requests. He also addressed the misconception that Telegram is an “anarchic paradise,” emphasizing that the platform actively takes down millions of harmful posts and channels every day.

With Telegram's user base skyrocketing to 950 million, Durov recognized the growing pains that came with this rapid expansion, which made it easier for bad actors to exploit the platform. He assured users that improving Telegram’s moderation processes was a personal goal, and significant changes were already underway.

Moving Forward After August’s Events

Durov concluded his message by expressing hope that the events of August would lead to a stronger, safer Telegram and a better social networking industry overall. Despite the challenges, Durov reaffirmed his commitment to protecting user privacy and freedom, even when facing pressure from governments.