Telegram Founder Arrested, Is Free Speech Under Attack?

Following last week’s arrest of Pavel Durov, co-founder of Telegram, at Le Bourget Airport on August 24, TON Society—an independent entity advocating for the TON community—has called for his immediate release.

In a strong statement released today, the Society described his detention as a “direct assault on a basic human right” and a breach of free speech principles.

Source: TON

The open letter from TON Society, addressed to French authorities and published on their platform, also appeals to international organizations such as the United Nations, the Council of Europe, and the European Union, urging them to advocate for Durov and press France to respect human rights. The Society highlighted a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights which supports encryption as a means to safeguard fundamental rights like freedom of expression.

Furthermore, the letter called on other tech companies and social media platforms to oppose government-imposed censorship and any restrictions on user information. TON Society emphasized that Telegram’s approach to content moderation aligns with the EU’s Digital Services Act.

Despite increasing international pressure for his release, French officials have stated that Durov’s detention will continue until August 28 (tomorrow), pending further investigation into alleged illicit activities conducted via the Telegram app.

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What Happened?

Pavel Durov, the prominent Russian-born tech mogul and founder of the encrypted messaging app Telegram, has been detained by French authorities following his arrival at Le Bourget airport just north of Paris.

Durov, known for his staunch advocacy for privacy and digital rights, was apprehended after his private jet, arriving from Baku, touched down. The arrest, confirmed by multiple French media outlets including Le Monde, has sparked a flurry of international reactions and raised significant concerns about the intersection of technology, privacy, and law enforcement.

The arrest warrant, reportedly issued by France’s L’Office Mineurs (OFMIN), which investigates crimes against minors, signals a serious inquiry into Telegram’s operations and their alleged links to unlawful activities such as fraud, drug trafficking, cyberbullying, and organized crime. Sources close to the investigation detailed that the preliminary probe focuses heavily on what is perceived as Telegram’s lack of effective content moderation.

According to an AFP report, the allegations against Durov and his platform are broad, suggesting that the app has been used as a conduit for various illicit activities. This has led to the potential for severe legal repercussions, with speculations about Durov facing up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

A Bloomberg report highlighted comments from Maria Zakharova, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, who corroborated the news of Durov’s arrest in a post on Telegram, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.

Telegram Issues First Statement

In contrast, the messaging platform issued a statement defending its compliance with EU laws, including the Digital Services Act. “Telegram abides by EU laws, including the Digital Services Act — its moderation is within industry standards and constantly improving. Telegram’s CEO Pavel Durov has nothing to hide and travels frequently in Europe. It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform. Almost a billion users globally use Telegram as means of communication and as a source of vital information. We’re awaiting a prompt resolution of this situation. Telegram is with you all.” the statement read, asserting that the allegations were surprising given Durov’s frequent travels in Europe and his transparent business operations.

Source: X

Charges Revealed

The Paris prosecutor, Laure Beccuau, announced that the inquiry focuses on alleged crimes involving illegal transactions, child sexual abuse, fraud, and the refusal to share information with authorities.

Earlier today, French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed the arrest of Durov in association with a legal investigation concerning Telegram.

“In a rule-of-law state, legal frameworks safeguard freedoms on social media and in tangible realms, ensuring citizen protection and adherence to their basic rights,” Macron stated on X, emphasizing that the arrest was “not politically motivated.” “The judiciary, autonomously, must apply the law,” he added.

A top representative from Ofmin, a French organization established last year to combat child violence, linked Durov’s arrest to Telegram’s inadequate efforts to combat criminal activity on the app, particularly the circulation of child sexual abuse content. Ofmin issued the arrest warrant for Durov.

Jean-Michel Bernigaud, Ofmin’s secretary general, highlighted on LinkedIn the core issue: the platform’s poor moderation and cooperation in battling child-related crimes, noting Telegram’s nearly 1 billion users.

Beccuau noted that Durov’s arrest is part of a broader probe “into X”—an unidentified individual or group—that started on July 8 after a preliminary review by the National Jurisdiction for Combating Organised Crime (Junalco).

Cybercrime and fraud specialists are examining 12 suspected crimes tied to organized crime, including aiding in the possession and distribution of “pedo-pornographic” child images, drug crimes, and fraud. It remains unclear which, if any, of these suspected crimes are specifically linked to Durov.

On Sunday, the investigating magistrate extended Durov’s custody from 24 to up to 96 hours. By then, the magistrate must either formally charge him or release him.

Telegram stated on Sunday evening that Durov has “nothing to hide,” asserting: “Telegram complies with EU laws, including the Digital Services Act. Its moderation meets industry standards and is continually enhancing. It’s baseless to allege that a platform or its owner is liable for misuse of that platform.”

Source: X

Free Speech Under Attack?

The reaction has been swift and vocal, with various figures weighing in on the implications of Durov’s detention. Russian authorities have expressed dismay at France’s actions, with the Russian embassy in Paris demanding access to Durov and accusing French authorities of “avoiding engagement” on the matter.

Meanwhile, American political figures and commentators have also shared their perspectives. Tucker Carlson, a right-wing commentator, argued on social media platform X that Durov’s arrest is an affront to free speech, stating “Pavel Durov left Russia when the government tried to control his social media company, Telegram. But in the end, it wasn’t Putin who arrested him for allowing the public to exercise free speech. It was a western country, a Biden administration ally and enthusiastic NATO member, that locked him away. Pavel Durov sits in a French jail tonight, a living warning to any platform owner who refuses to censor the truth at the behest of governments and intel agencies. Darkness is descending fast on the formerly free world.”

Elon Musk simply Tweeted “#FreePavel” and linked to Carlson’s previous interview with the Telegram founder.

Prominent tech figures such as Edward Snowden, Balaji Srinivasan, and Lex Fridman also tweeted their support for Telegram and Pavel.

TON Under Pressure

Following the news of Durov’s detention, Toncoin (TON) experienced a sharp decline, dropping nearly 17% within hours, from approximately $6.80 to around $5.38.

The Open Network (TON), Telegram’s affiliated blockchain protocol, remains unaffected by Durov’s arrest, according to an official post on its X account. The post reassured the community of its operational status and rallied support for Durov, emphasizing the platform’s foundational principles of speech freedom and decentralization.

Durov’s personal history with governmental interference, particularly from the Russian government when he managed VK, the largest Russian social network, underscores the complexities of his current predicament. After leaving Russia in 2014 due to increasing government pressures, Durov has lived in various countries, eventually settling in Dubai, citing its business-friendly environment and neutrality—a stark contrast to the regulatory challenges he now faces in Europe.

As the situation unfolds, the digital and geopolitical communities are keenly watching the outcomes of Durov’s impending court appearances and the broader implications for digital privacy and the responsibilities of tech platforms in moderating content while safeguarding user rights.