- Telegram CEO Pavel Durov addresses his recent arrest in Paris
- He defends Telegram’s practices and acknowledges platform growth challenges
- Durov pledges to improve abuse prevention measures on Telegram
Not so fast, French authorities
Pavel Durov, CEO of Telegram, has broken his silence following his unexpected arrest in Paris last month.
In a lengthy Telegram post, Durov expressed surprise at the French authorities’ actions, arguing they should have pursued legal action against the platform rather than targeting him personally.
He emphasized Telegram’s existing channels for addressing concerns, including an EU representative and a direct hotline for French authorities.
Growing pains, not anarchy
Addressing accusations of Telegram being an “anarchic paradise,” Durov acknowledged the platform’s rapid growth to 950 million users has created challenges.
He committed to improving the platform’s ability to combat abuse, promising more details soon. Durov also highlighted Telegram’s history of leaving countries when unable to strike a balance between privacy and security demands.
Balancing act continues
The CEO reiterated Telegram’s ongoing efforts to engage regulators and find the right balance between privacy and security.
Durov’s arrest, which French President Emmanuel Macron insists was not politically motivated, stems from allegations of complicity in the distribution of illegal content on the platform.
Despite the legal troubles, Durov ended his post on a lighthearted note, thanking supporters for their “love and memes.”
