Technology
Telegram CEO Durov criticizes French charges as 'surprising', 'misguided'
Telegram's founder and CEO, Pavel Durov, has publicly criticised the French government's decision to arrest and charge him over extremist and illegal content on his platform.
In his first statement since his arrest in late August, Durov expressed surprise at being held accountable for user-generated content, labeling the charges as "misguided."
In a detailed post on Telegram, Durov rejected accusations that the platform is a haven for anarchic content.
He emphasised that Telegram removes "millions of harmful posts and channels" daily, and stated that the platform cooperates with authorities, including assisting French officials in setting up a hotline to counter terrorism.
Durov acknowledged that Telegram's rapid growth—now serving 950 million users worldwide—has posed challenges in content moderation.
He pledged to improve the platform's safety measures while maintaining a balance between privacy and security. Durov also hinted that if disagreements with local regulators cannot be resolved, Telegram may consider exiting certain markets.
Durov, 39, was arrested at Le Bourget airport in France on August 24 and subsequently charged. He was released on bail under strict conditions, including regular check-ins at a police station.
Despite the legal challenges, Durov's stance has gained support from fellow tech figures like Elon Musk, who has voiced his backing using the hashtag #FreePavel.
Durov remains committed to addressing the issues raised, aiming to make Telegram—and the broader social media industry—"safer and stronger
-
Technology6h ago
The Boeing Starliner has returned to Earth without its crew – a former astronaut details what that means for NASA, Boeing and the astronauts still up in space
-
Technology22h ago
WebAssembly (WASM): A Game-Changer for Blockchain Performance
-
Technology1d ago
Lowest ever price — save over $400 on one of our favorite cameras at Adorama
-
Technology1d ago
Novel Chinese computing architecture 'inspired by human brain' can lead to AGI, scientists say
-
Technology1d ago
Inside the Rise of Bitcoin-Powered Pools and Bathhouses
-
Technology1d ago
How Starlink Got Mixed Up in the Brazil-X Feud
-
Technology1d ago
Tiny, compact galaxies are masters of disguise in the distant universe − searching for the secrets behind the Little Red Dots
-
Technology1d ago
Space travel comes with risk − and SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission will push the envelope further than any private mission has before