French authorities arrest Telegram CEO at airport in Paris

Pavel Durov, CEO of Telegram, was arrested by French police at Le Bourget Airport near Paris on Saturday evening under a warrant linked to alleged shortcomings in moderating criminal activities on the messaging platform, according to French media reports.

Durov is reportedly accused of failing to sufficiently address issues such as drug trafficking, child exploitation, and fraud on Telegram.

Telegram is heavily used by Russian soldiers for communication and information exchange in Ukraine. Russian media have reported that many experts fear Durov’s arrest could jeopardize critical information shared via the app.

The arrest has also led to calls within Russia for the development of an alternative messaging platform, particularly for military use.

Telegram has been criticized for its weak moderation policies, especially regarding far-right extremism and other illegal activities, sparking an international debate over the balance between privacy and security.