Pavel Durov (39), the founder of the mobile messenger Telegram, was arrested in France on charges of neglecting to prevent criminal misuse, according to major foreign media including AFP on the 24th (local time).
Telegram founder Pavel Durov. Photo by Wikipedia
According to reports, local major broadcasters, citing anonymous sources, stated that Durov was arrested in the evening at Le Bourget Airport on the outskirts of Paris. Durov is accused of failing to take measures to prevent Telegram from being used for various crimes.
AFP also cited a source saying that the French police's Office for the Fight against Crimes against Minors (OFMIN) issued an arrest warrant for Durov, considering him the 'coordinating agency' for crimes such as fraud, drug trafficking, cyberbullying, organized crime, and terrorism incitement, based on initial investigations.
Durov, originally from Russia, is the creator of the social networking service (SNS) VKontakte (VK), known as the Russian version of Facebook, and the encrypted messenger application Telegram, together with his older brother Nikolai Durov (44). He is often called the 'Mark Zuckerberg of Russia.'
Telegram boasts strong security and has been used as a communication tool by pro-democracy activists resisting government oppression in Russia, Iran, Hong Kong, and other places. However, recently, it has been criticized as a hotbed for extremist content and the spread of fake news.
The Russian Embassy in France, regarding the news of Durov's arrest, told the Russian TASS news agency, "We have not yet been contacted by the party involved," but added, "We have taken immediate action to clarify the situation."
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