Telegram founder Pavel Durov has broken his silence following his arrest by French authorities on August 24, 2023. In a statement on his public Telegram channel, Durov expressed sharp criticism of the French approach and highlighted the growing tension between privacy, free speech, and law enforcement.

Arrest and allegations

Durov was arrested in France, accused of failing to cooperate with law enforcement in addressing criminal activities on Telegram. The allegations focused on Telegram's insufficient action against illegal content such as child exploitation material, drug trafficking, and terrorism. French authorities argued that the platform did not do enough to combat these practices, leading to Durov‘s arrest.

Durov‘s response: criticism of personal liability

In his response, Durov expressed surprise that authorities chose to arrest him personally instead of investigating Telegram as a company. He criticized the use of outdated laws that hold CEOs personally liable for user-generated content on their platforms. According to Durov, the authorities could have easily contacted him to discuss the issue.

Durov argued that if a country is dissatisfied with an internet service, it should investigate the service itself, not individuals. He insisted that criminalizing CEOs for the actions of users is not the appropriate way to address such concerns.

Telegram‘s commitment to free speech

Despite the arrest, Durov reaffirmed Telegram‘s commitment to protecting free speech. He stated that the platform is prepared to withdraw from markets where free speech and privacy are at risk. "We are not doing this for profit, but to defend fundamental rights," Durov emphasized.

International criticism and political implications

Durov's arrest triggered international criticism, with privacy advocates and prominent tech figures condemning the actions of French authorities. Although President Macron has reiterated France‘s commitment to free speech, the arrest has raised questions about the limits of online responsibility and the role of governments in regulating technology companies.

The investigation into Durov's arrest is ongoing, and both French authorities and Telegram will have to navigate these complex legal and ethical issues in the coming months.