Pavel Durov, the 39-year-old Russian-born billionaire and CEO of messaging app Telegram, was arrested at an airport outside Paris on Saturday night. He has been placed in custody over alleged offenses related to the platform.
Durov is accused of failing to mitigate the misuse of Telegram for criminal activities, such as organized crime, drug trafficking, fraud, cyberbullying, and the promotion of terrorism.
The French media outlet OFMIN issued an arrest warrant for Durov, citing his role in allowing these activities on the platform. Telegram has around 800 million users, many of whom are based in Russia and Ukraine.
Russia’s embassy in France is seeking clarification on the reasons for Durov’s detention and demanding protection for his rights and consular access. The news has sparked concerns over the future of the popular messaging app.
Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/08/26/who-is-telegram-founder-pavel-durov-and-why-was-he-arrested.html