Telegram CEO Pavel Durov arrested on charges related to child pornography and money laundering.

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov arrested on charges related to child pornography and money laundering.

Pavel Durov, the 39-year-old founder and CEO of Telegram, was apprehended on Saturday evening at Bourget airport in France as he disembarked from his private jet, according to reports from the French television network TF1.

His detention has ignited considerable discussion and speculation across various social media channels, including Telegram itself, as users react to the unfolding news.

TF1 has indicated that Durov is facing a warrant in France stemming from an initial police inquiry.

French officials allege that Telegram’s insufficient content moderation and its lack of cooperation with law enforcement have rendered Durov complicit in multiple criminal offenses, including drug trafficking, money laundering, and the distribution of child pornography via the platform.

This incident is likely to intensify the ongoing conversation about the legal responsibilities of messaging services concerning user-generated content.

Durov, who has an estimated net worth of $15.5 billion, has been living in Dubai since leaving Russia in 2014, and his company is said to have approximately 950 million active users, with aspirations to reach 1 billion this year, according to reports. 

Images: Courtesy. Pavel Durov / Instagram.