Pavel Durov's Arrest: What It Means For Telegram And Digital Communication

Pavel Durov, the CEO and co-founder of the popular Telegram app, was arrested by French police on 24th August. Durov was traveling from Baku to Paris in his private jet. After he arrived in Paris, he was detained outside the Le Bourget airport. French media reports that a warrant was already issued against Pavel Durov by the French authorities. But what was the reason behind the arrest of Pavel Durov? Let us explain.

Reasons Behind Pavel Durov's Arrest

According to French media, Pavel Durov is being investigated for offenses related to the Telegram messaging app. French authorities press charges that Telegram is being widely used for drug trafficking, sharing of child sexual content, organized crime, promotion of terrorism, fraud, and cyberbullying.

French authorities say that Telegram has failed to enforce sufficient moderation and has not taken action against the criminal use of its platform. One of the French investigators went on to say, “Enough of Telegram’s impunity.”

A recent report by BOOM Live sheds light on the extensive use of Telegram for selling child sex abuse material (CSAM) in India. Last year, Telegram banned more than 2,000 groups that hosted child abuse videos after the Indian government issued notice to Telegram.

In light of the allegations, Telegram said in a statement, “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 the abuse of that platform. We’re awaiting a prompt resolution of this situation.”

It’s interesting that Telegram raises the point that a platform can’t be responsible for abuse of its platform. In India, the “safe harbor” protection given to intermediaries like Telegram can be withdrawn if platforms fail to enforce applicable laws of the country.

Nevertheless, a French magistrate has now extended the detention of Durov, which can last up to 96 hours.

The Global Response to Durov's Arrest

Just after the arrest, Elon Musk came out in support of Durov on X saying, “POV: It’s 2030 in Europe, and you’re being executed for liking a meme.” After Elon Musk took over Twitter (now X), the platform has increasingly become a breeding ground for misinformation and adult posts due to a lack of moderation.

Apart from that, Edward Snowden, currently exiled in Russia, said, “The arrest of @Durov is an assault on the basic human rights of speech and association.”

The Russian embassy in Paris has also sharply reacted to the Pavel Durov arrest. It says that France is not cooperating with the embassy and not allowing access to Durov. Just so you know, Pavel Durov is no longer a citizen of Russia. Instead, he holds dual citizenship with France and UAE and currently lives in Dubai. The Telegram app is also registered and headquartered in Dubai.

Understanding Telegram's Encryption Model

In light of Pavel Durov’s arrest, a discussion has erupted over Telegram’s encryption model. In our WhatsApp vs Telegram vs Signal comparison, we have explained that Telegram is not end-to-end (E2E) encrypted by default. You need to use the “Secret Chat” feature in the Telegram app for end-to-end encryption. This means default chats on Telegram are less secure than WhatsApp and Signal.

Even so, the E2E encryption employed by Telegram is not the industry-standard Signal Protocol. Telegram has designed its own in-house MTProto protocol for end-to-end encryption. It’s a closed-source encryption protocol, and security researchers suggest that users should opt for a widely trusted protocol over a proprietary one.

As the world continues to grapple with issues of privacy and security, the spotlight is now on Telegram and other messaging apps to address these critical concerns. Pavel Durov's arrest raises important questions about the responsibilities of tech companies in moderating their platforms and ensuring user safety.

Overall, Durov's arrest highlights the ongoing tension between digital freedom and state regulations, as well as the challenges faced by platforms that seek to balance user privacy with the need to combat illegal activities.