Telegram says CEO has ‘nothing to cover’ after being arrested in France

“It’s absurd to say {that a} platform or its proprietor are accountable for abuse of that platform,” the corporate says in an unnamed assertion posted to its official channel within the Telegram app on Sunday. French officers have confirmed to a number of retailers that Durov was arrested as a part of a police investigation into legal exercise happening on the social community.

Whereas not encrypted by default, Telegram’s largely hands-off strategy to moderation signifies that the app is seen by many as a non-public, censorship-free different to different social networks. “Virtually a billion customers globally use Telegram as technique of communication and as a supply of important info,” reads the corporate’s assertion. “We’re awaiting a immediate decision of this example.”

Telegram has additionally been a vital supply of data for the continued warfare between Ukraine and Russia, the latter of which seems to be fairly keen on what occurs to Durov. The Russian Embassy in Paris says that the French authorities has up to now not granted it entry to Durov, who was born in Russia and holds citizenship in each France and the United Arab Emirates, the place Telegram is headquartered.

In a uncommon interview with Tucker Carlson in April, Durov mentioned Telegram’s purpose is to be a “impartial” platform and resist requests from governments to reasonable. He mentioned he principally avoids touring to “huge, geopolitical” international locations the place there’s “an excessive amount of consideration” on the corporate. “I journey to locations the place I’ve confidence that these locations are in keeping with what we do and our values.”