Telegram Responds to Founder's Arrest
In a recent statement, Telegram CEO Pavel Durov affirmed that he has “nothing to hide” and clarified that he is not accountable for any improper use of his platform. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Telegram released a statement on Sunday, clarifying that CEO Pavel Durov is not accountable for any misuse of the platform.
The company asserted its compliance with EU laws and emphasized that its founder, Pavel Durov, “has nothing to hide,” following Durov's arrest in Paris. Telegram expressed its hope for a “prompt resolution” to the situation.
Durov was detained at Paris-Le Bourget Airport on Saturday upon his arrival from Azerbaijan via private jet. Reports from French media indicate that prosecutors in Paris intend to charge the 39-year-old with involvement in drug trafficking, pedophilia offenses, and fraud. They argue that Telegram’s inadequate content moderation, strong encryption features, and alleged lack of cooperation with law enforcement enable criminal activities on the platform.
In response, Telegram refuted these claims, asserting that the company adheres to EU regulations and that its content moderation practices meet “industry standards.”
“Pavel Durov has nothing to hide and travels frequently in Europe,” the statement noted, deeming it “absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform.”
The company emphasized that “almost a billion users globally use Telegram as means of communication and as a source of vital information,” and reiterated their anticipation of a swift resolution to the matter.
Headquartered in Dubai, Telegram appointed a Belgian legal representative earlier this year to oversee its compliance with EU law. Additionally, it has adhered to the bloc’s anti-Russian sanctions by blocking access to Russian news outlets, including RT.
Nevertheless, Durov has persistently refused to provide user data to law enforcement or to implement ‘backdoors’ that would allow surveillance of conversations on the app. In an interview with RT on Sunday, Durov’s former spokesman suggested that French authorities may have acted on behalf of the US, following Durov's public allegations that American intelligence agencies attempted to coerce him into granting access to Telegram user data.
Anna Muller contributed to this report for TROIB News
The company asserted its compliance with EU laws and emphasized that its founder, Pavel Durov, “has nothing to hide,” following Durov's arrest in Paris. Telegram expressed its hope for a “prompt resolution” to the situation.
Durov was detained at Paris-Le Bourget Airport on Saturday upon his arrival from Azerbaijan via private jet. Reports from French media indicate that prosecutors in Paris intend to charge the 39-year-old with involvement in drug trafficking, pedophilia offenses, and fraud. They argue that Telegram’s inadequate content moderation, strong encryption features, and alleged lack of cooperation with law enforcement enable criminal activities on the platform.
In response, Telegram refuted these claims, asserting that the company adheres to EU regulations and that its content moderation practices meet “industry standards.”
“Pavel Durov has nothing to hide and travels frequently in Europe,” the statement noted, deeming it “absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform.”
The company emphasized that “almost a billion users globally use Telegram as means of communication and as a source of vital information,” and reiterated their anticipation of a swift resolution to the matter.
Headquartered in Dubai, Telegram appointed a Belgian legal representative earlier this year to oversee its compliance with EU law. Additionally, it has adhered to the bloc’s anti-Russian sanctions by blocking access to Russian news outlets, including RT.
Nevertheless, Durov has persistently refused to provide user data to law enforcement or to implement ‘backdoors’ that would allow surveillance of conversations on the app. In an interview with RT on Sunday, Durov’s former spokesman suggested that French authorities may have acted on behalf of the US, following Durov's public allegations that American intelligence agencies attempted to coerce him into granting access to Telegram user data.
Anna Muller contributed to this report for TROIB News
