Telegram CEO Criticizes Baseless French Criminal Probe

Pavel Durov, founder of Telegram, has strongly criticized the ongoing French criminal investigation against him as baseless and unprecedented, arguing that holding a tech CEO responsible for independent users' actions is legally and logically absurd. Since his arrest in August 2024, Durov has maintained his innocence, emphasizing that Telegram complies with all legally binding requests and follows industry-standard content moderation practices. Despite being allowed to travel to Dubai under strict conditions, he must return to France every two weeks, with no appeal date set, and has expressed concern that the case has irreparably damaged France's reputation as a free country. The arrest sparked widespread backlash from crypto communities, free speech advocates, and business leaders, with critics accusing the French government of pressuring Telegram to increase censorship. French President Emmanuel Macron defended the legal process, asserting that freedoms must be balanced within the law, but this stance drew sharp criticism from various figures. Durov has reaffirmed Telegram's commitment to user privacy and stated the platform will leave any jurisdiction that mandates compromising encryption or censorship.