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On Thursday, Telegram CEO Pavel Durov publicly commented for the first time regarding his recent arrest in France. He acknowledged that the platform’s swift expansion to 950 million users has resulted in “growing pains” that have allowed for criminal exploitation.
Durov was apprehended by French authorities on August 24 at Le Bourget Airport near Paris. His arrest stemmed from an inquiry into Telegram’s involvement in unlawful activities, which included drug trafficking and the distribution of child sexual abuse material. Authorities attributed these concerns to inadequate content moderation on the platform.
Ultimately, he faced charges for assisting in the management of an online platform that enabled illegal activities by organized groups. This action is part of a wider investigation into how technology platforms address illegal content, raising global concerns regarding internet regulation and freedom of expression.
Durov’s situation has ignited discussions surrounding free speech, privacy, and the accountability of tech CEOs in overseeing platform content.
I’m still trying to understand what happened in France. But we hear the concerns. I made it my personal goal to prevent abusers of Telegram’s platform from interfering with the future of our 950+ million users.
My full post below. https://t.co/cDvRSodjst— Pavel Durov (@durov) September 5, 2024
French Authorities Warned of Personal Liability Due to Platform Misuse: Durov
In a post on Telegram on Thursday, Durov revealed that French authorities informed him he could be held personally liable for the misuse of the platform by others, as Telegram had not adequately responded to their requests.
He expressed surprise at this, noting that Telegram has an official EU representative responsible for managing and responding to inquiries from the EU.
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Durov Criticizes Arrest, Calls CEO Accountability for User Misconduct Unfair
Additionally, Durov criticized the rationale behind his arrest, contending that it is unjust to hold a CEO accountable for the actions of third parties on their platform.
“No innovator will ever build new tools if they know they can be personally held responsible for potential abuse of those tools,” he stated.
Durov also mentioned that Telegram actively collaborates with EU requests and removes millions of harmful posts each day.
“All of that does not mean Telegram is perfect,” he wrote. “But the claims in some media that Telegram is some sort of anarchic paradise are absolutely untrue.” Durov indicated his intention to enhance the platform’s management of harmful content and to streamline the process for authorities to submit requests through the app.
Telegram CEO Durov Could Receive 20-Year Sentence, But Legal Factors May Lighten Outcome
If found guilty on all counts, particularly under the most stringent interpretations of the law, Durov could face a maximum of 20 years in prison due to the cumulative penalties.
However, his sentence may be reduced based on legal considerations, such as acquittal on certain charges, possible plea agreements, or the judge’s discretion during sentencing.
Currently, Durov is out on a €5 million bail and is prohibited from leaving France until at least March 2025. He is also required to check in with the police regularly, indicating that while he is not incarcerated, his freedom is considerably limited as he awaits further legal developments.
The post Telegram CEO Addresses Platform Abuse In First Comments Since Arrest appeared first on Cryptonews.
