Tech founder Pavel Durov of Telegram has criticized French authorities for pursuing criminal charges against him instead of addressing concerns with the company directly. In his first public comments since his arrest, Durov expressed surprise that he could be held personally responsible for actions by users on the platform. He argued that France’s approach could stifle innovation in the tech industry, as it may deter innovators from creating new tools due to fear of personal liability. Durov also mentioned that Telegram actively takes down harmful content on a daily basis and is working to improve its policies and controls.
French authorities arrested Durov last month as part of an investigation into criminal activities on Telegram, leading to formal charges against him related to providing services to criminals and running a platform facilitating illicit transactions. The case has sparked debates on the balance between freedom of speech, privacy, and policing online harm, drawing criticism from tech figures like Elon Musk and Edward Snowden. Russia has also challenged the allegations and called for strong evidence to justify Durov’s charges. Durov pledged to enhance Telegram’s efforts to combat abuse on the platform and promised to share progress updates with users soon. The ongoing case has raised concerns about the potential impact on internet freedom and the responsibilities of tech companies in managing their platforms.
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