What just happened? Telegram is one of the largest social media and communication tools currently available with over 950 million active users worldwide. But not all of those users leverage the platform's capabilities with the best of intentions, and the lack of moderation for these users has led to a warrant and arrest of the platform's CEO, Pavel Durov.
Originally reported by the French media outlet TF1, Durov was arrested by the Air Transport Gendarmerie (GTA) on the tarmac of Le Bourget airport around 8 p.m. on Saturday. He was apprehended shortly after departing his private jet following a flight from Azerbaijan.
The warrant for Durov's arrest was authorized by the OFMIN (Office to Combat Violence Against Minors) and issued by French authorities as part of a preliminary investigation into Telegram's practices and potential facilitation of criminal activity.
Contributing factors included Telegram's lack of moderation, Durov's unwillingness to cooperate with law enforcement regarding criminal matters tied to the platform, and the availability of tools like burner phone numbers, encrypted communications, and cryptocurrencies that enable Telegram-based criminal activities.
Unnamed French authorities told TF1 that the warrant was only valid if Durov was on French soil, describing his landing at the airport just outside Paris as "a blunder." Before this incident, Durov had carefully avoided European countries known for keeping a close eye on Telegram and its operations.
Durov's next steps may not be quite what he had in mind after landing at Le Bourget. According to the TF1 report, investigators from the Customs Directorate's National Anti-Fraud Office (ONAF) placed Durov in police custody until he is presented to a judge for indictment. The list of potential charges is serious, referencing everything from terrorism, narcotics, and money laundering to supporting the transmission of pedocriminal content.
French law enforcement sources told TF1 that Durov "…allowed an incalculable number of offenses and crimes to be committed, for which he did nothing to moderate or cooperate." He is currently awaiting indictment, which is likely to be followed by detention due to his substantial resources, making him a high flight risk.
This ordeal could mark the closing chapter in the long history of Pavel Durov. Born in Russia, he and his brother, Nikolai Durov, founded Telegram in 2013. Pavel was forced to leave Russia in 2014 after refusing to comply with the government's demands to shut down communities voicing opposition on his previous social media platform, VKontakte, which he later sold. In an interview with Tucker Carlson following his departure, Durov remarked, "I would rather be free than take orders from anyone."