NICE, France— The founder and CEO of Telegram messaging service was seized at a Paris airport on an arrest warrant charging that his platform was used for money laundering, drug trafficking, and other felonies, according to French media. Pavel Durov, a dual citizen of France and Russia, was detained at Paris-Le Bourget Airport on Saturday evening after arriving from Azerbaijan, according to LCI and TF1. According to the broadcasters, investigators from the National Anti-Fraud Office, which is part of the French customs department, informed Durov, 39, that he was being held in police custody

Representatives for Durov could not be reached for an immediate comment. When contacted by The Associated Press on Sunday, French prosecutors declined to comment on Durov’s arrest, citing laws governing ongoing investigations. According to French media, France issued the order for Durov at the request of the interior ministry’s special section in charge of investigating crimes against minors. Online sexual exploitation includes the ownership and dissemination of child sexual abuse content, as well as grooming for sexual objectives. Durov and his brother launched Telegram during the Russian government’s crackdown on major pro-democracy protests in Moscow at the end of 2011 and 2012. The demonstrations spurred the Russian authorities to tighten down on the digital sphere.

In an increasingly oppressive climate, Telegram and its pro-privacy rhetoric provided a handy means for Russians to communicate and share information. In 2018, Russian media watchdog Roskomnadzor sought to shut Telegram over its refusal to hand over encryption keys, but eventually failed to completely restrict access to the service.

In an increasingly repressive environment, Telegram and its pro-privacy rhetoric presented an easy way for Russians to interact and share information. In 2018, Russian media watchdog Roskomnadzor attempted to shut down Telegram due to its refusal to hand over encryption keys, but was ultimately unable to totally restrict access.

In a statement made on its platform, Telegram stated that it follows EU rules, notably the Digital Services Act, and that its moderation is “within industry standards and constantly improving.” According to the corporation, Durov “has nothing to hide” and travels often throughout Europe.

“It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner is responsible for platform abuse,” Telegram wrote. “Almost a billion people worldwide use Telegram as a means of communication and a source of critical information. We are waiting for a swift resolution to this matter. Telegram is with all of you.” A French court official stated that Durov could appear before a judge later Sunday to determine if he will be held in detention. During the ongoing investigation, the official was not authorized to be identified publicly. “If the person concerned is to be brought before a judge today, it is only in the context of the possible extension of his police custody measure — a decision that must be taken and notified by an investigating judge,”

Western governments have frequently criticized Telegram for a lack of content moderation on the messaging service, which experts believe opens the platform up for potential use in money laundering, drug trafficking, and the transmission of content related to sexual exploitation of minors. Compared to other messaging services, Telegram is “less secure (and) more lax in terms of policy and detection of illegal content,” according to David Thiel, a Stanford University researcher who has researched the use of internet platforms for child exploitation at its Internet Observatory. Additionally, Telegram “appears basically unresponsive to law enforcement,”

In 2022, Germany fined Telegram’s operators 5.125 million euros ($5 million) for failing to comply with German legislation. The Federal Office of Justice stated that Telegram FZ-LLC has neither established a legal mechanism for reporting illegal content or designated a German organization to receive official correspondence. Both are required under German regulations governing huge internet sites. Last year, Brazil temporarily barred Telegram for failing to turn over data on neo-Nazi behavior in connection with a police investigation into school shootings in November. Russian government officials were outraged by Durov’s arrest, with some citing the West’s double standard on free speech.

In 2018, a collection of 26 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Freedom House, Reporters Without Borders, the Committee to Protect Journalists, and others protested the Russian court’s decision to block Telegram,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated. “Do you think this time they’ll appeal to Paris and demand Durov’s release?” Zakharova stated in a post on her personal Telegram channel. Officials at the Russian Embassy in Paris had requested access to Durov, Zakharova told Russian state news source RIA Novosti, but she noted that French authorities consider Durov’s primary citizenship.