Telegram's CEO Arrested: A Significant Turn in the Digital Sphere

Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of Telegram, was arrested at a French airport due to a warrant linked to the platform's lack of moderation, which authorities argue facilitates criminal activities. This incident underscores the app's controversial role in global news dissemination, particularly surrounding the Ukraine conflict.

Pavel Durov, the Russian-French billionaire behind Telegram, was detained at Bourget airport in Paris on Saturday, per sources from TF1 and BFM TV. His private jet was halted due to a French arrest warrant, part of a probe into Telegram's alleged facilitation of criminal activities via inadequate moderation.

The encrypted messaging app, with nearly a billion users, holds significant sway in Russia, Ukraine, and former Soviet territories. French authorities, alongside investigative sources, suggest the lack of moderators on Telegram has allowed unchecked criminal activity.

While Telegram and French officials refrained from immediate comment, Russia's foreign ministry emphasized its embassy in France is examining Durov's circumstances. Moscow calls for Western NGO interventions, reminiscent of past tensions surrounding Telegram's stance on censorship and independent media access.

(With inputs from agencies.)