Payam Javan: Pavel Durov, co-founder of the messaging app Telegram, was recently detained in France at Le Bourget airport near Paris, following his arrival from Azerbaijan. Telegram, headquartered in Dubai, asserted that Durov has “nothing to hide” and emphasized that the platform operates in compliance with European Union laws. The company stressed that its moderation practices align with industry standards and expressed hope for a swift resolution of the matter.

The French authorities have yet to officially comment on Durov’s arrest, which is believed to be related to allegations of money laundering, drug trafficking, and distributing illicit content via Telegram. The arrest has drawn criticism from various quarters, including Chris Pavlovski, owner of Rumble, who decried it as an attack on free speech. Pavlovski’s comments were echoed by Elon Musk, who has previously critiqued moderation practices as a form of censorship.

The arrest of Durov is part of a broader trend of French authorities targeting encrypted communication networks, with prior actions including hacks into Sky ECC and EncroChat. These operations have led to numerous convictions across Europe, though some have contested the legality and fairness of the evidence obtained. The ongoing scrutiny of Telegram underscores the tension between digital privacy and law enforcement efforts in combating organized crime.