Tuesday, August 27, 2024 - French President Emmanuel Macron has denied any political involvement in the arrest of Telegram founder Pavel Durov, who remains in French custody following his surprise detention at a Paris airport. The tech billionaire, known for his creation of the encrypted messaging platform Telegram, was arrested on accusations related to the spread of illegal content on his platform, which boasts over 900 million users worldwide.
Macron addressed the situation directly in a post on X
(formerly Twitter), labelling the claims of political motivation as "false
information." He emphasized that Durov's arrest was part of an ongoing
judicial investigation and stated, "It is in no way a political decision.
It is up to the judges to rule on the matter."
Durov, who holds both Russian and French citizenship, has
been in custody since Sunday and is expected to remain so until Wednesday,
following an extension granted by French authorities. The ongoing investigation
could see Durov either released or formally charged when his initial 96-hour
detention period concludes.
The arrest has raised eyebrows due to the timing and
circumstances surrounding it. Durov, who has been based in Dubai, arrived in
Paris from Baku, Azerbaijan, seemingly aware of the legal risks. A source close
to the investigation suggested Durov might have felt a sense of impunity, while
others speculate on the reasons for his travel to France despite the ongoing
legal concerns.
French officials, particularly from the Office for the Fight
Against Violence towards Minors (OFMIN), have been investigating Durov for
potential offences including fraud, drug trafficking, cyberbullying, organized
crime, and the promotion of terrorism. The accusations primarily focus on
Telegram's alleged failure to moderate illegal content on the platform.
In response to the allegations, Telegram has maintained that
Durov has "nothing to hide" and insists that the platform operates
within EU laws, including the Digital Services Act. The company dismissed the
idea that Durov or Telegram should be held responsible for illegal activities
conducted by users on the platform.
The case has garnered international attention, with
prominent figures such as Elon Musk expressing support for Durov. Musk took to
X, using the hashtag #FreePavel and questioning the situation in a post that
read, "Liberte Liberte! Liberte?" (Freedom Freedom! Freedom?).
Despite the controversy, Macron reiterated France's
commitment to freedom of expression but stressed that such freedoms must
operate within a legal framework. "It is up to the judiciary, in full
independence, to enforce the law," Macron concluded.
As Durov's legal situation continues to unfold, the tech
world watches closely, given Telegram's significant role in global
communications and its use by individuals and groups on all sides of various
geopolitical conflicts, including the ongoing war in Ukraine.
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