Telegram CEO: Charges for crimes committed by 3rd parties ‘misguided approach’

Pavel Durov, founder and CEO of Telegram, expressed surprise at his recent arrest in France, labeling the actions of French authorities as “misguided,” Anadolu Agency reported today.

In his first public comments since the incident, Durov criticized the approach of holding him accountable for crimes allegedly committed by third parties on the platform. He emphasized that Telegram has an official EU representative and has cooperated with law enforcement, including establishing a hotline to address terrorism threats.

Durov defended Telegram’s commitment to balancing privacy and security, noting past refusals to comply with demands from Russia and Iran that compromised user safety. He acknowledged the challenges posed by a surge in users and pledged to enhance communication with authorities to prevent misuse of the platform.

Durov concluded by stating that Telegram actively removes harmful content and publishes transparency reports, asserting that claims of the platform being an “anarchic paradise” are false. He hopes the events will ultimately lead to a safer social networking environment.