Pavel Durov, Telegram’s CEO, has returned to Dubai after seven months under investigation in France for alleged criminal activity related to his messaging platform. He expressed gratitude to his supporters and judges, and pledged to improve moderation practices on Telegram. Durov faces accusations of failing to regulate the use of his app for illegal activities, but he maintains that his platform is not anarchic.
Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of Telegram, recently returned to Dubai after spending seven months under investigation in France regarding his messaging app’s use for criminal activities. Despite the ongoing investigation, there were no specific conditions released concerning his exit from France, as confirmed by a spokesperson from the Paris prosecutor’s office. Durov shared on his Telegram channel, “The process is ongoing, but it feels great to be home.”
Durov, who holds dual citizenship in the United Arab Emirates and France, reportedly traveled from the airport where he was arrested to Dubai, approximately 3,300 miles away. In his statement on Telegram, he expressed gratitude to the investigative judges, his legal team, and supporters for their assistance during this challenging time, emphasizing that Telegram has consistently exceeded its legal moderating obligations.
Telegram, which boasts over 950 million users, has gained popularity in regions like the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Russia, as well as among certain far-right groups in the United States. Durov’s legal issues began in August when French police detained him after his private jet landed at Le Bourget Airport under a warrant linked to alleged shortcomings in moderating criminal activities on the platform.
The allegations against him include failure to regulate illegal uses of Telegram, such as drug trafficking and child exploitation. Durov termed his arrest as “misguided” and “surprising,” arguing that making a CEO liable for third-party crimes on a platform is fundamentally flawed. Notably, an expert referred to Telegram as “the dark web in your pocket.”
Following his release, Durov committed to enhancing Telegram’s measures against criminal users, stating that the small fraction of illicit users should not tarnish the platform’s overall reputation. He expressed intentions to transform Telegram’s moderation into a respected aspect of the service. In collaboration with the Internet Watch Foundation, Telegram has begun efforts to quickly identify and remove inappropriate content from the platform.
Pavel Durov’s departure from France to Dubai comes amidst an active investigation into the criminal use of Telegram. As he navigates these legal challenges, he pledges to enhance the platform’s moderation practices to mitigate illicit activities associated with a minority of users. Durov’s commitment reflects the ongoing effort to balance user privacy with legal responsibilities, ensuring that a few misuse cases do not overshadow the vast majority of legitimate users.
Original Source: www.upi.com
