Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of Telegram, made his first public statement following his arrest on August 25, expressing strong discontent and surprise. In his statement posted on his Telegram channel, Durov condemned the arrest as "misguided" and criticized the French authorities for what he perceived as a hasty approach. According to Durov, the French authorities could have contacted Telegram directly to address their concerns before resorting to detaining him. He noted that he had been cooperative in the past, including assisting French authorities in establishing a hotline to counter terrorism-related threats in France.
The arrest, which was part of a preliminary investigation by French authorities, centered on allegations that Telegram was being used for various illegal activities. These include fraud, drug trafficking, cyberbullying, organized crime, and the promotion of terrorism. The arrest warrant was reportedly issued following concerns about how the messaging app was being used to facilitate these criminal activities.
In his statement, Durov strongly rejected the notion that Telegram functions as an "anarchic paradise" for illegal activities. He asserted that Telegram actively works to combat harmful content on the platform, citing the removal of millions of harmful posts and channels every day. He also pointed to the company's commitment to transparency through daily reports and its partnerships with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to expedite the processing of urgent moderation requests. Durov emphasized that despite its challenges, Telegram is dedicated to improving its platform and tackling issues related to misuse.
Durov's comments also addressed the nature of the arrest, highlighting his previous engagement with French authorities and his efforts to collaborate on various issues. He found it peculiar that the French authorities chose to detain him rather than using the established channels for communication. Durov argued that using outdated legal frameworks to hold a CEO accountable for third-party actions on a platform is an ineffective and inappropriate method.
Telegram has been criticized for its large group capacity, which can host up to 200,000 members. Critics argue that this feature facilitates the spread of misinformation, hate speech, conspiracy theories, and criminal content. The platform has come under particular scrutiny in the UK, where far-right channels on Telegram were reportedly involved in organizing violent unrest in several cities last month. This has intensified calls for stricter regulation and greater accountability for platforms like Telegram.
Durov acknowledged that the rapid expansion of Telegram's user base, which now exceeds 950 million, has created challenges in moderating content effectively. He admitted that these challenges have made it easier for bad actors to exploit the platform. In response, he pledged to significantly enhance Telegram's moderation capabilities to better address these issues.
In the wake of the arrest, Telegram made a notable policy change by removing the end-to-end encryption feature for personal chats. Previously, the FAQ section on Telegram’s website indicated that private chats were protected from moderation requests, but this is no longer the case. The decision to remove this feature seems to be a response to the criticisms and allegations of criminal activities occurring on the platform without adequate oversight. By making this change, Telegram aims to demonstrate its commitment to addressing illegal activities and cooperating with law enforcement agencies. This shift reflects the company's ongoing efforts to navigate the complex landscape of digital privacy and regulation while striving to maintain user trust.
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