Who is Pavel Durov? Telegram app CEO arrested in France
Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of the Telegram messaging app, was arrested on Sunday at Bourget airport outside Paris for alleged offences related to his messaging app.
Sources told the AFP news agency that the Franco-Russian tech billionaire would appear in court after being detained by police. French warrant for Durov’s arrest as part of an inquiry into allegations of fraud, drug trafficking, organised crime, promotion of terrorism and cyberbullying.
The Russian embassy in France demanded consular access to Durov and demanded that his rights be ensured, and Russian state news agency TASS reported on Sunday.
Several Russian bloggers have called for protests outside French embassies worldwide.
Durov is best known as the founder of VKontakte (VK), Russia's largest social networking site, and Telegram, a widely-used messaging app renowned for its focus on privacy and security. Often referred to as the "Russian Mark Zuckerberg," Durov has become a prominent figure in the tech world due to his innovative platforms and his staunch advocacy for digital privacy and freedom of speech.
In 2006, at the age of 22, he launched VK, which quickly grew to become Russia's largest social networking site. VK's rapid rise was fueled by its user-friendly interface and features that closely mirrored those of Facebook. By 2014, VK had over 100 million active users, making Durov a significant player in the global social media landscape
Durov's relationship with the Russian government became increasingly fraught as VK grew in influence. In 2011, during mass protests against the government, Durov refused to block opposition groups on VK, leading to tensions with authorities. By 2014, pressure from the government and alleged attempts to seize control of VK forced Durov to sell his remaining stake in the company and leave Russia.
After leaving VK, Durov focused on creating Telegram. Launched in 2013, Telegram quickly gained popularity, particularly among users concerned about government surveillance. Telegram's features, including end-to-end encryption and self-destructing messages, made it a go-to platform for activists, journalists, and privacy advocates around the world.
With 950 million active monthly users, Telegram has become a major source of information and disinformation.
Durov now lives in Dubai, where Telegram is based and holds citizenship in France and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He recently said he had tried to settle in Berlin, London, Singapore and San Francisco before choosing Dubai, which he praised for its business environment and “neutrality”.
