Telegram CEO detention extended after arrest in France

On Saturday, Telegram co-founder and CEO Pavel Durov was arrested at Le Bourget Airport outside Paris, France. French officials working on behalf of the country’s Office Mineurs (OFMIN, which focuses on the protection of minors) took Durov into custody amid allegations that Durov failed to curb illegal activity on Telegram, including child exploitation, fraud, drug trafficking, cyberbullying, organized crime and the promotion of terrorism.

Now anonymous sources are speaking with Agence France-Presse (via Yahoo News) say that France has apparently extended Durov’s detention beyond the initially expected 24 hours. France can do this multiple times — up to 96 hours of detention — without formally charging Durov. Ultimately, France will have to charge Durov or release him when those 96 hours expire.

The OFMIN warrant for Durov’s arrest has been out for some time now. It’s unclear why Durov would choose to come to France so brazenly, knowing he would likely be arrested. There are numerous theories online, from Russian President Vladimir Putin trying to arrest him (and Durov choosing to be arrested in France in order to escape) to Durov simply trying to stir things up. The latter theory isn’t all that outlandish, given Durov’s history of doing just that.

Telegram is notorious for its end-to-end encrypted (E2EE) chats and server-encrypted public “channels.” The app’s built-in anonymity makes it a boon for journalists and those living under authoritarian governments. That same anonymity, however, makes Telegram a perfect breeding ground for crime, from drug sales to terrorist planning to the distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

Durov argues that he needs to take a hands-off approach to keep Telegram an integral tool for the people who use it for good purposes. France’s OFMIN disagrees, however, arguing that Durov should be held accountable for criminal activity on the platform or at the very least do more to moderate communications on his app.

In any case, France has about 48 hours to charge Durov or release him. Durov — who was born in Russia — holds French nationality, including a French passport. If the authorities release him, he would be allowed to stay and even live in the country indefinitely. Currently, Durov lives in Dubai, where Telegram is based.