In a shocking turn of events, Pavel Durov, the billionaire founder and CEO of the popular messaging app Telegram, has been detained by French authorities at Bourget Airport outside Paris.
According to sources, Durov was taken into custody on yesterday evening after arriving from Azerbaijan.
The detention is linked to a French arrest warrant issued against Durov due to concerns over Telegram’s lack of moderation, which has allegedly enabled money laundering, drug trafficking, and the sharing of pedophilic content on the platform.
The 39-year-old entrepreneur has reportedly avoided regular travel to France and Europe since the warrant was issued.
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Durov’s detention marks a significant development in the ongoing debate over social media regulation and content moderation.
As the founder of Telegram, Durov has been vocal about his commitment to privacy and encryption, but critics argue that the platform’s lax moderation policies have made it a haven for illicit activities.
The French prosecutor’s office has yet to comment on the matter, and CNN has reached out for further clarification.
This story is still unfolding, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
