Telegram’s instant messaging app finally opened its voice after Telegram CEO Pavel Durov, who was arrested when he landed at Le Bourget airport in France on Saturday (August 24, 2024) around 8 p.m. local time.
About a day after the alleged arrest on Sunday (August 25, 2024 PST), Telegram issued an official statement regarding the arrest of Pavel Durov.
In this announcement, Telegram said they have not violated any laws, especially with regard to the moderation of content on the messaging platform.
“All of our operations on Telegram comply with the laws applicable in the European territory, including the Digital Services Act applicable there. Besides, our content moderation process has also evolved over time,” Telegram claimed.
Illustration of Telegram statement on Telegram News channel on Telegram app.
Telegram also affirmed that Pavel Durov had no hidden information about what was happening in France, which could be allegedly related to the number of criminal acts that took place on the Telegram app in the country.
“Pavel Durov has been travelling throughout Europe normally. It doesn’t make any sense for a pioneer or platform builder to use his own platform for corrupt activities or criminal acts,” Telegram added.
For the time being, Telegram said it was waiting for information or an official statement about the arrest of their boss in France.
“We are waiting and urging a resolution on the problem that has affected Pavel Durov. Telegram will always be with the users,” said Telegram, as quoted by KompasTekno from the official channel TelegramNews, Monday (26/8/2024).
It is that the French authorities carrying out the arrest of Pavel Durov will send an official statement on Monday local French time or around Monday noon to evening Indonesian time.
Until the news was written, the French authorities had not issued an official statement about the arrest of Pavel Durov.
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Telegram CEO Pavel Durov arrested.
As previously, Pavel Durov is on the list of people searched by the French apparatus, the Fichier des Recherches de Personnes.
The OFMIN (Office Français de la Modernisation et de l’Innovation Numérique), a French government agency or department focused on modernising public services through digital innovation, also issued a search warrant on behalf of Pavel Durov.
The French authorities believe Durov, through Telegram, is unwilling to cooperate with law enforcement in the country regarding surveillance or moderation of content on Telegram.
According to local authorities, the messaging platform is believed to have a lack of moderation to monitor criminal activities, some of which include drug trafficking, pedophilia offences, fraud, etc.