Telegram Mogul Durov Arrest Sparks Diplomatic Standoff

Pavel Durov, founder and CEO of Telegram, was arrested in France due to concerns over the app's lack of moderation, which is seen as enabling criminal activity. His arrest has prompted reactions from various stakeholders, including Russian politicians and international personalities, calling for free speech and protests.

Pavel Durov, the Russian-French billionaire founder and CEO of the Telegram messaging app, was detained at Bourget airport outside Paris on Saturday evening. According to TF1 TV and BFM TV, the arrest was linked to an investigation into Telegram's insufficient moderation, which authorities believe facilitates criminal activity.

Telegram, with close to a billion users, plays a significant role in Russia, Ukraine, and other former Soviet states, making it one of the world's leading social media platforms. The French Interior Ministry and police have not commented on the situation, and Telegram has yet to respond to requests for comments.

Durov's arrest comes amid heightened scrutiny of Telegram by European countries due to security and data breach concerns. Russian officials have accused France of acting like a dictatorship, echoing criticisms they faced during their attempts to ban Telegram in 2018. The situation has spurred calls for protests at French embassies globally, highlighting the app's controversial yet powerful presence in global communications.

(With inputs from agencies.)