Telegram CEO Pavel Durov was arrested in Paris over allegations that the messaging platform is not properly moderated and is being used for illegal activities such as money laundering and drug trafficking. Durov, who co-founded Telegram in 2013, defended the platform's moderation practices, stating that it abides by EU laws and industry standards.
Telegram, with nearly a billion global users, emphasized that the platform and its owner should not be held responsible for the misuse of the platform. Durov, a citizen of the United Arab Emirates and France, has a history of standing up for user privacy and free speech.