Telegram CEO Addresses Platform Abuse In First Comments Since Arrest

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov on Thursday publicly addressed his recent arrest in France for the first time. He admitted the platform’s rapid growth to 950m users led to “growing pains” that enabled criminal misuse.

French authorities arrested Durov on Aug. 24 at Le Bourget Airport near Paris. His arrest resulted from an investigation into Telegram’s role in criminal activities. These activities included drug trafficking and the distribution of child sexual abuse material. Authorities linked these issues to a lack of sufficient content moderation on the platform.

Ultimately, he was charged with helping manage an online platform that facilitated illegal activities by organized groups. The action is part of a broader investigation into how tech platforms handle illegal content, raising international concerns about internet regulation and free speech.

Durov’s case has sparked debates on free speech, privacy and the responsibility of tech CEOs in managing platform content.

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

French Authorities Warned of Personal Liability Due to Platform Misuse: Durov

In a Thursday post on Telegram, Durov shared that French authorities told him he could be held personally responsible for others’ misuse of the platform because Telegram hadn’t responded to their requests.

He said he found this surprising, noting that Telegram has an official EU representative who manages and answers inquiries from the EU.

Durov Criticizes Arrest, Calls CEO Accountability for User Misconduct Unfair

Further, Durov criticized the strategy behind his arrest, arguing against holding a CEO responsible for third-party offenses on his platform.

“No innovator will ever build new tools if they know they can be personally held responsible for potential abuse of those tools,” he said.

Durov further stated that Telegram actively cooperates with EU demands and removes millions of harmful posts daily.

“All of that does not mean Telegram is perfect,” he wrote. “But the claims in some media that Telegram is some sort of anarchic paradise are absolutely untrue.” Durov said he plans to improve the platform’s handling of harmful content. He also intends to simplify the process for authorities to submit requests through the app.

Telegram CEO Durov Could Receive 20-Year Sentence, But Legal Factors May Lighten Outcome

If convicted on all charges, especially under the strictest interpretations of the law, Durov could face up to 20 years in prison due to the combined penalties.

However, his sentence could be lighter depending on legal factors, such as acquittal on some charges, potential plea deals, or the judge’s discretion in sentencing.

Currently, Durov is out on a €5m bail and cannot leave France until at least March 2025. He must also check in with the police regularly, indicating that while not imprisoned, his freedom is significantly restricted as he awaits further legal proceedings.