Photo: from open sources
The founder of Telegram, Pavel Durov, has announced his return to Dubai after several months of forced stay in France related to the investigation of criminal groups’ activities on the messenger. He made the announcement on his Telegram channel on 17 March.
“As you may have heard, I have returned to Dubai after spending several months in France in connection with an investigation into the activities of criminals on Telegram. The process is ongoing, but I am very pleased to be back home,” Durov wrote.
In his statement, he also thanked the investigating judges for allowing him to leave the country, as well as his lawyers and team for their support and work to prove that Telegram “not only met but exceeded its legal obligations” to moderate content and cooperate with law enforcement.
French investigation: what is known?
Earlier, on 15 March, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported that Durov had flown from France to Dubai in the morning of the same day. According to the agency’s sources, he was only allowed to leave the country for a few weeks.
The investigation, in which the entrepreneur was summoned to France, concerns the use of Telegram by criminal groups that, according to the French authorities, use the platform for illegal activities.
Durov and content moderation: a matter of trust
Telegram has repeatedly been at the centre of discussions about content moderation and the fight against illegal activities. Durov says that his company complies with all requirements and even exceeds legal standards for cooperation with law enforcement agencies.
However, some governments have expressed doubts about the effectiveness of the platform’s controls. France and other European countries have repeatedly raised the issue of using the messenger to coordinate illegal activities, in particular in the field of cybercrime and terrorism.
What’s next?
Durov has now returned to Dubai, but the investigation in France is ongoing. It remains to be seen whether he will be obliged to return to Europe for further legal proceedings.
Will Telegram be able to find a balance between user privacy and governments’ demands for content control? The answer to this question may determine the future of the messenger in Europe.
