Telegram boss has "nothing to hide" – Accusations are "absurd"
Telegram founder Pavel Durov speaks out after his arrest: The accusations are unfounded and Meta is no better, he says.
(Image: Sergei Elagin/Shutterstock.com)
The accusations that led to the arrest of Telegram founder Pawel Durov in France could, in his view, be leveled against all major social media apps. In his statement on Telegram, Durov also attempts to denounce Meta, which has attracted even more negative attention with its moderation efforts. The arrest is linked to allegations regarding the moderation of content shared on the platform. He is accused of not having adequately enforced the moderation obligations for his messenger, as well as a lack of willingness to cooperate with the relevant authorities in taking action against criminal acts. Telegram has long been suspected of being used by people with criminal intentions.
Durov also writes: "Media coverage of Meta's moderation efforts has been particularly negative for most of its history. Interestingly, Meta was also the first social media company to reach a valuation of over a trillion dollars." Telegram, Durov believes, will go through a similar growth phase and "as we rapidly grow in size and importance, we will solve any potential challenges the same way we solve everything else – with efficiency, innovation and respect for privacy and freedom of speech."
Telegram calls allegations "absurd"
Telegram also wrote in its own statement that the accusations were "absurd". The messenger complies with the Digital Services Act (DSA). Among other things, this requires platform providers in the EU to have sufficient moderation obligations and reporting points for users. X and Tiktok have also already received letters from the EU Commission asking them to provide information about their practices. France has now responded with the arrest, as Durov is said to have refused to cooperate with the French law enforcement authorities. This made him complicit in crimes related to terrorism, drug trafficking, money laundering, receiving stolen goods and, in some cases, pedophile content.
Telegram claims that it is "absurd" to hold a provider and the owner responsible for the misuse of the platform. In fact, the DSA does not directly stipulate that providers and owners are responsible, but imposes certain obligations on them, such as intervening within a certain period of time if they become aware of abuses. The moderation must also correspond to the current state of development.
(emw)