Pavel Durov, the billionaire founder of Telegram, was arrested Saturday evening at Le Bourget airport near Paris. Durov, who was traveling from Azerbaijan on his private jet, was detained by French authorities following an arrest warrant issued as part of an investigation into criminal activities allegedly flourishing on Telegram due to its lack of moderation.
Telegram, which has 900 million active users, is particularly influential in Russia, Ukraine, and other former Soviet states, often serving as a key platform for unfiltered news, including during the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The arrest quickly caught the attention of Twitter owner Elon Musk, who has faced similar criticism over Twitter’s moderation policies. Musk reposted the news with a provocative comment: “POV: It’s 2030 in Europe and you’re being executed for liking a meme.”
Durov, who famously left Russia in 2014 after refusing government demands to shut down opposition communities on his former platform VK, has yet to comment on his arrest. Meanwhile, Telegram and French authorities have remained silent as the investigation continues.
With Durov’s arrest and Musk’s controversial reaction, should Elon Musk be worried?
