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Pavel Durov, the billionaire founder and CEO of Telegram, was reportedly detained at Bourget Airport near Paris on Saturday evening, according to French news outlets TF1 and BFM TV.
Reuters reports that the 39-year-old was arrested under a French warrant related to an ongoing investigation into Telegram’s alleged involvement in facilitating criminal activities, including terrorism, narcotics trafficking, and fraud.
The founder of the popular messaging platform’ arrest comes after he was accused by the French authorities of enabling a wide range of illegal activities without adequately moderating or cooperating with law enforcement.
This development comes amidst growing scrutiny of Telegram’s role in providing an encrypted platform that, while protecting user privacy, is also vulnerable to misuse by criminal organizations.
Details of Durov’s arrest shows that the warrant was activated as soon as he landed on French soil.
Sources disclosed that Air Transport Gendarmerie took into custody the Telegram boss, accompanied by a bodyguard and a woman.
The arrest was reportedly carried out under a search warrant issued by the French judicial police, specifically targeting Durov for his alleged role in facilitating these criminal activities via Telegram.
As at the filing of this report, Telegram has yet to issue a statement.
Similarly, French authorities have remained tight-lipped, with the Interior Ministry and police declining to comment on the matter.
The National Anti-Fraud Office (ONAF) is reportedly overseeing the investigation.