Messaging platform Telegram said on Sunday night that it complies with European Union laws, after its founder and CEO, Pavel Durov, was arrested at France’s Le Bourget airport for refusing to moderate content related to minors on the social network, making him complicit in any crime committed on it.
“Telegram complies with EU laws, including the Digital Services Act. Its moderation is in line with industry standards and it is constantly improving. Durov has nothing to hide and frequently travels to Europe. It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner is responsible for the abuse of that platform,” reads a statement.
He also stressed that almost a billion users around the world use Telegram as a means of communication and as a source of vital information. “We are waiting for a prompt resolution of this situation,” he concluded.
Durov, who had landed at Le Bourget airport – near Paris – from Azerbaijan, was arrested on Saturday night by the Gendarmerie de Transport Aéroport (GTA). The French Justice understands that Telegram is a potential ally for the commission of crimes of fraud, against minors or drug trafficking among others, given the tools it offers, as well as the lack of moderation in its use and the scarce collaboration with the authorities.
The businessman, also founder of the Russian social media platform VKontakte and holder of French and Emirati citizenship, was fired from his position as general director of this last social network, after refusing to collaborate with the main Russian security agency, the FSB, when it asked him for information on opposition groups to the Kremlin.
