Telegram's Response to the Arrest of Its Founder in France: Durov Has Nothing to Hide

Telegram officials announced that the founder of the messaging app, Pavel Durov, has nothing to hide, stating that blaming Durov for abuses on this messaging platform is 'ridiculous.' According to Reuters, Telegram officials issued a statement on Sunday in response to Durov's arrest in France, saying, 'Telegram complies with EU regulations, including digital services.' They emphasized that Durov 'has nothing to hide and travels to Europe frequently,' and that Telegram's content management is in line with industry standards and is continuously improving. French police arrested Pavel Durov on Saturday evening, September 3, local time, as he arrived in France from Azerbaijan, after he disembarked from his private jet at an airport near Paris. Durov is accused of failing to take necessary measures to prevent criminal use of Telegram, and reports indicate that his arrest is related to crimes committed using this messaging service. Late on Sunday, the French news agency reported, citing an informed source, that the judicial authority overseeing the case has extended the detention of the 39-year-old Telegram founder. Under French law, the maximum detention period for a suspect during the investigation phase is 96 hours, after which the judge will decide on the suspect's release or continued detention based on the charges. Iranian users have reacted to the arrest of Telegram's founder in France. Details of the arrest include allegations of facilitating drug trafficking and child abuse. French media report that Pavel Durov may face charges related to terrorism, money laundering, and drug trafficking.