Today, we celebrate Pavel Durov, the visionary founder of Telegram, whose years of dedication and hard work have provided hundreds of millions of people worldwide with a secure and efficient platform to communicate and create content. Thanks to Telegram, people can bring the latest top news from around the world without barriers. Telegram stands as a testament to how one individual with strong principles can challenge the influence of governments and make a significant impact.

In a move to enhance content moderation, Telegram, the messaging platform founded by Pavel Durov, has introduced new reasons for reporting content in channels and group chats. Previously, users could only report content under seven categories: spam, violence, pornography, child exploitation, copyright infringement, personal data violations, and “other.” Now, additional categories have been added, including “don’t like,” “doesn’t break the law but should be removed,” terrorism, illegal goods, and child abuse.

In a heart-wrenching statement, Pavel Durov, founder of Telegram, shared that his girlfriend, Yulia Vavilova, tragically lost their baby after being interrogated by French authorities. The couple recounted the events that unfolded following Durov’s arrest in France. After landing in France, Yulia had her tech devices confiscated and was unable to respond to the online negativity that surfaced. Already feeling unwell, she took a pregnancy test, which confirmed she was expecting.

Pavel Durov Reveals He Earns Just 1 Dirham Annually During Interrogation – Le Monde During a recent interrogation, Pavel Durov, founder of Telegram, surprised French investigators by revealing that he earns just 1 Emirati dirham (around 25 cents) annually. According to Le Monde, the statement left investigators “baffled” when they questioned him about his income. The report also claims that the Paris prosecutor’s office initially requested a bail of €20 million for the owner of Telegram, but the court eventually reduced the amount to €5 million.

In response to mounting pressure from French authorities, Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, announced changes to the messenger’s privacy policy. In a recent Telegram message, Durov revealed that his team had removed all “illegal content” from the app’s search results using advanced neural networks. He emphasized that Telegram would cooperate with law enforcement by providing the data of users who violate the platform’s terms in response to a “reasonable request.

After the recent detention of Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov in Paris, the platform has reportedly begun responding to requests from law enforcement agencies in various countries, according to a report by Le Figaro. The publication’s sources indicate that Telegram has started cooperating more actively with investigators across borders, following its collaboration with French authorities. Le Figaro notes that Telegram has provided information that could assist in identifying criminals, including a report of one unnamed EU country receiving data on a group within the app that allegedly facilitated over a hundred murder orders.

After the recent arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov, the platform has reportedly increased its cooperation with French law enforcement, according to a report by Liberation. The social network, previously known for resisting legal requests, has now become more responsive to inquiries, particularly those involving investigations into child exploitation. Since Durov’s detention in France, Telegram has begun complying with requests from the Office of Minors (Ofmin), which is leading the investigation.

Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau has described the legal case against Telegram CEO Pavel Durov as “exemplary” in France’s ongoing efforts to combat cybercrime. Durov, who was arrested in late August upon arriving in Paris, faces multiple charges, including failing to cooperate with authorities and operating an online platform allegedly used for illegal activities such as trafficking and child exploitation. Durov, a Russian-born tech billionaire with multiple citizenships, including France, the UAE, and Saint Kitts and Nevis, was later released on €5 million ($5.

Following the detention of Telegram founder Pavel Durov in France, South Korean media outlets have reported extensively on a new investigation into the platform’s alleged role in the distribution of deepfake pornography. Reports emphasize that minors have sometimes become “victims” of the AI-generated content. The National Investigation Division of South Korea’s National Police Agency has confirmed that a “pre-trial investigation” has been launched against Telegram LLC, mirroring the legal actions currently taking place in France.

Telegram has recently disabled its ‘People Nearby’ feature, which allowed users to discover others in their vicinity. The exact reason for disabling this function remains unclear. This development comes shortly after Telegram founder Pavel Durov was detained in Paris on August 24. Durov faces six charges, including allegations linked to fraudulent activities on the platform and Telegram’s refusal to implement censorship measures. On August 28, Durov was released under judicial supervision, with a bail set at €5 million, and he has been prohibited from leaving France.

During his interrogation in Paris, Telegram founder Pavel Durov disclosed that prior to his arrest, he had been in contact with French intelligence services to aid in preventing terrorist activities, as reported by Liberation. At a meeting in Dubai with representatives of the French intelligence service, Durov reportedly clarified that it would be “inappropriate” for him to disclose information classified as a military secret. While the nature of this secret remains undisclosed, the report suggests that Durov established a communication channel with the French DGSI to aid in combating terrorism.

According to TASS, a Paris court has confiscated all passports belonging to Telegram founder Pavel Durov as part of the ongoing investigation. Irina Sidorova, a member of the Paris and Nice Bar Association, confirmed that “all passports in his possession have been seized for the duration of the investigation,” effectively preventing Durov from leaving France by air, sea, or land. Durov, who holds four citizenships — Russia, France, St. Kitts and Nevis, and the UAE—now faces significant travel restrictions.

The Paris prosecutor’s office has announced that Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has been released under judicial supervision by a Paris court. As part of the conditions for his release, Durov is prohibited from leaving France and must post bail of 5 million euros. Additionally, he is required to report to the police twice a week. Durov faces serious charges, including operating an online platform for facilitating illegal transactions. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison.

According to a report by Le Monde, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed concerns about the procedure through which Telegram CEO Pavel Durov obtained French citizenship. The ministry reportedly believes that the conditions required for granting a passport under the “outstanding citizen” category were not fully met. The citizenship, which was granted last year through a rare and exceptional procedure, typically requires initiation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, although it is often influenced by high-ranking officials or even the president.

The pre-trial detention period for Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has expired, as two cars with flashing lights were spotted leaving the offices of the Fraud Office in a Paris suburb, where Durov was reportedly being held. Under French law, pre-trial detention can last up to 96 hours. After this period, the court is required to either release the individual or formally charge them, potentially leading to continued custody. The decision regarding Durov’s fate now hangs in the balance, raising critical questions about the future of digital freedom and privacy.

French authorities have escalated their actions against Telegram, issuing arrest warrants for both CEO Pavel Durov and his co-founder brother, Nikolai Durov, on March 25, 2024. This development is part of a secretive investigation that has been ongoing for several months, as revealed in official documents from French law enforcement reviewed by the media. The investigation centers around Telegram’s refusal to cooperate with French police in a case involving the sexual abuse of minors.

Emmanuel Macron, Toomas Ilves, Guy Verhofstadt, Anne Applebaum, Oleg Tinkov, Christo Grozev, Anna Veduta

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has expressed support for the arrest of Telegram founder Pavel Durov, drawing parallels to his own repressive measures against peaceful protesters in Belarus. Lukashenko stated that “if you’re guilty, you must answer for it,” praising the French authorities for their actions and suggesting that they are justified in defending themselves using similar methods to those employed by his regime in Belarus. Lukashenko also criticized French President Emmanuel Macron for previously condemning him over human rights violations and the imprisonment of over a thousand political dissidents in Belarus, pointing out the irony in Macron’s criticism given the harsh suppression of the “yellow vest” protests in France.

In response to the recent arrest of Telegram founder Pavel Durov, Russian hacktivist groups have initiated a series of distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks targeting several French websites. The attacks are being led by the Russian Army Cyber Team and have affected high-profile sites, including the European Court of Human Rights, the regional utilities provider Syane, and France’s National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products, among others. These cyberattacks are being carried out under the hashtag #FreeDurov.

Telegram has surged in popularity in France, becoming one of the top three most downloaded apps following the arrest of its founder, Pavel Durov. According to data from Appfigures, a platform that tracks app downloads, Telegram has taken the number one spot in the ‘Social Networks’ category and is ranked third overall across all apps in the country. In the United States, Telegram’s popularity has also increased, climbing to eighth place—the highest ranking since 2023.

On August 27th, Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg disclosed that the Biden administration pressured the company to censor content related to COVID-19 during the pandemic. This pressure was reportedly linked to requests from the White House to remove misinformation regarding the coronavirus and vaccines. In a letter dated August 26th, Zuckerberg informed the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee that he regretted not speaking out sooner about this pressure. He also expressed concerns over past decisions made as the owner of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp to remove specific content.

The United Arab Emirates has formally requested that the French government provide full consular services to Telegram founder Pavel Durov following his recent arrest in Paris. According to a statement from the UAE foreign ministry on Monday, they are closely monitoring the situation to ensure Durov’s rights are protected. Durov, who holds UAE citizenship, was detained by French authorities late Saturday at Paris–Le Bourget Airport as part of a broader investigation into Telegram, the encrypted messaging app he founded.

The Telegram founder is accused of: complicity in the administration of an online platform to conduct illegal transactions; refusing to provide authorities with information to intercept communications; complicity in the possession and distribution of child pornography; complicity in the possession and trafficking of narcotics; complicity in trafficking in computer interference equipment (hacking); complicity in organised fraud; criminal conspiracy; laundering the proceeds of crime; providing cryptographic privacy services without a declaration of conformity;

Telegram has issued its first official response following the detention of its CEO, Pavel Durov. The platform’s team affirmed their adherence to all European Union regulations, including the stringent ‘Digital Services Act’. In their statement, Telegram emphasized that their content moderation practices “comply with industry standards and are continuously being enhanced.” The team firmly rejected allegations that either the platform or its founder should be held accountable for “misuse of the platform.

Pavel Durov, co-founder and CEO of Telegram, was arrested on Saturday at Le Bourget airport near Paris by French authorities. Acting on behalf of the Office Mineurs (OFMIN), an agency dedicated to protecting minors, officials took Durov into custody over allegations that he has failed to prevent illegal activities on Telegram. These accusations include the exploitation of children, fraud, drug trafficking, cyberbullying, organized crime, and the promotion of terrorism. According to anonymous sources cited by Agence France-Presse (via Yahoo News), Durov’s detention has been extended beyond the initial 24-hour period.

In a shocking development, Pavel Durov, the visionary behind Telegram messenger, has been arrested in France, according to reports from TF1/LCI. Durov was detained by the French Air Transport Gendarmerie (GTA) while his plane, which was on a flight from Azerbaijan, made an unscheduled stop for refueling. Authorities claim that Durov was on a local wanted list. This case, now being overseen by the newly established ‘Office for Combating Crimes against Children’ (OFMIN) of the National Gendarmerie, has sparked significant controversy.