The Telegram app has at least 11 million users in the US.
It is a messaging app which prides itself on its privacy, security and end-to-end encryption. It is reportedly the third largest messaging app globally, with around 700 million users worldwide, as of last year.
Owner a Billionaire
Telegram’s co-founder and CEO is a multi-billionaire at only 39 years old.
He has a private jet and lives in Dubai where Telegram is based. He was born in Russia and previously lived there but had to leave when he refused to shut down communities that opposed Putin on his social media platform VKontakte.
Now an UAE Citizen
He is now a citizen of the United Arab Emirates as well as of France.
He has an illustrious family, with a grandfather who received honours for his exploits with the 65th Infantry Division of the Soviet Red Army in World War II and his father is the head of the Department of Classical Philology at St Petersburg State University.
Privacy Versus Transparency
There has long been a dispute over how much privacy should be allowed on messaging apps because of their use by terror groups and other criminal agents.
Telegram’s CEO has always stood on the side of privacy over transparency which aids journalists and activists in authoritarian states but also has also led to Telegram developing a reputation as being a place where criminal groups can thrive.
Arrested
Now, Pavel Durov has been arrested in France when alighting from his private jet after a flight from Azerbaijan.
He is expected to appear in court on Sunday 25th August, although details of the charges are currently vague, they include serious allegations such as fraud, drug trafficking and promotion of terrorism.
No Comments Yet
Durov is implicated because he has allegedly failed to take action to prevent the criminal use of his platform.
However, there are no comments yet either from Durov’s team or from the French authorities. So many Telegram users are on tenterhooks waiting to see what will happen.
Durov Horrified
Durov has previously said that he was “horrified” when he found out that groups such as Islamic State used Telegram to communicate.
He has, however, steadfastly refused to allow governments access to the platform and has reportedly been in more than one altercation with the FBI over his refusal to allow them to build a backdoor into the network.
France at Forefront
France is at the forefront of European efforts to compel tech companies to take responsibility for the content shared on their platforms.
Given the timing of the arrest, with the US election less than three months away, the Russia/Ukraine war at a crucial juncture, not to mention the Gaza/Israel war and many other world events, France may be trying to create a precedent and send a message that no one is immune.
Telegram an Essential Tool
Telegram is an essential tool for many; for business, networking and in any situation where secure messaging is needed.
So the outcome of any criminal investigation or conviction could be critical. It could also have implications for many other messaging apps in many other countries if France prosecutes Durov.
Durov’s Belief
Despite the repeated standoffs with law enforcement agencies, Durov has stood by his principles.
In an interview, Durov once said, “One thing that should be clear is that you cannot make just one exception for law enforcement without endangering private communications of hundreds of millions of people because encryption is either secure or not.”
