Telegram downloads skyrocket after CEO’s arrest

Over the weekend, Pavel Durov, founder and CEO of the popular messaging app Telegram, was arrested in France. He is accused of the platform’s long-standing failure to try to curb illegal activities on it.

The messaging app, which has over 900 million monthly active users, is accused of being a breeding ground for drug trafficking, the distribution of child sexual abuse material and money laundering.

Durov was arrested at Le Bourget airport as part of an ongoing investigation by the cybercrime department of the Paris prosecutor’s office. The Russian-born billionaire is currently in custody pending further investigation. As reported by Bloomberg, a French official handling the matter suggested that the case against Durov and Telegram revolves around “a lack of moderation and cooperation from the platform.”

Telegram, on the other hand, released a statement saying it complies with EU laws and that its “moderation is in line with industry standards and is constantly improving.” It also added that Durov has “nothing to hide” and that “it is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner is responsible for the misuse of that platform.”

Who would have thought that arrests could be good for business?

Despite the allegations, the messaging platform has seen a surge in downloads since Durov’s arrest. As TechCrunch reported, the app reached No. 2 on the App Store’s social networking charts in the US today. At the time of writing, it has been demoted to No. 3 after being overtaken by WhatsApp. In France, where the arrest occurred, the app is still ranked No. 2. On the Play Store, the app is currently ranked ninth among all free apps.

The rapid increase in download numbers is undoubtedly linked to the increased public awareness of the arrest. People who have never used the application before may have finally decided to try it out because of its features such as secret chats, self-destructing media, an option to hide the IP address with a proxy server, and more. Likewise, advocates of absolute freedom of speech may have downloaded the app to show their support for Durov.

It is worth noting that Durov is still under investigation. Bloomberg notes that the judge in charge of the case will have to decide whether to press charges or whether he should be named as a witness in the investigation and subsequently released.