Telegram CEO Detained in France Amid Content Moderation Concerns
After the arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov in France, Russian officials have been instructed to delete their Telegram correspondence. Durov, detained at Paris Le Bourget airport, faces charges related to his platform’s alleged failure to moderate criminal content. The Russian embassy in Paris has accused French authorities of refusing to cooperate, demanding consular access for Durov.
Russian Officials Rally in Defense of Durov, Criticize France for Censorship
Russian officials, including Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova and former President Dmitry Medvedev, have criticized France’s actions as censorship. Rights ombudsman Tatiana Moskalkova suggested that the real motive behind Durov’s arrest is to silence Telegram, which is popular among Russian state officials. Influential state TV personality Margarita Simonyan has called on users to delete sensitive Telegram chats, warning that Durov may be forced to hand over the platform’s keys.
