Telegram CEO arrested in investigation into app’s criminal activities

The arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov in Paris on Saturday, August 24, has attracted considerable attention. Durov was arrested as part of an ongoing investigation into Telegram’s role in facilitating criminal activity through its chat platform. This investigation has heightened attention on the popular messaging app, which has been criticized for its lack of moderation and refusal to cooperate with law enforcement.

Telegram’s moderation guidelines under criticism

Telegram has long been under scrutiny for its approach to moderation – or lack thereof. Unlike some other messaging apps, Telegram does not use end-to-end encryption by default. This decision gives investigators access to the content shared in Telegram groups and chats and allows them to track and document the extent of illegal activity on the platform. Despite this, Telegram has consistently refused to enforce stricter moderation rules or cooperate with authorities, leading to growing frustration among EU officials.

Durov’s arrest has sparked a debate between those who see it as a necessary step to combat criminal activity and those who see it as an overreach of the government’s powers. Free speech advocates argue that this action is part of a broader campaign by the “censorship industrial complex” to suppress dissenting voices. They claim that Telegram is unfairly being attacked because it facilitates free speech, which they say is under threat in the current political climate.

However, it appears that Telegram’s decision not to encrypt chats by default and provide less security to users is what led to this crackdown. The investigation into Telegram suggests that authorities now have ample evidence of criminal activity facilitated through the platform, and they are keen to solve it.

The impact on encrypted messaging apps

This development raises questions about the extent of criminal activity that could be taking place on fully encrypted platforms like WhatsApp. While it’s plausible that similar illegal activity is taking place on these apps, encryption makes it difficult, if not impossible, for authorities to detect or take action against it. Telegram’s looser privacy measures have put it in the crosshairs of criticism, and EU officials seem determined to tackle what they see as a major source of criminal links.

Interestingly, Durov’s arrest has drawn the ire of conservative groups, many of whom have resorted to Telegram for their discussions. These groups argue that the platform is being unfairly targeted because it has become a haven for people whose views do not align with mainstream narratives.

In 2021, Elon Musk, now a leading conservative voice, encouraged his followers to use Signal as their preferred messaging app, citing concerns about WhatsApp’s privacy practices. However, Musk’s stance changed earlier this year when he discovered that NPR CEO Katherine Maher sat on the board of the Signal Foundation. This revelation made Musk doubt Signal’s security, although these concerns were based on his personal biases rather than concrete evidence.

Use Signal
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 7, 2021
 

As a result, many conservative users began switching to Telegram, which already had a reputation for allowing unmoderated illegal activity. With Durov’s arrest, the same groups are expressing outrage and claiming that the platform is being unfairly targeted. However, it is important to note that the investigation into Telegram is more about its role in enabling criminal activity than an attack on free speech.

Telegram reacts to Durov’s arrest

Following Durov’s arrest, Telegram released a statement defending its practices, saying: “Telegram complies with EU laws, including the Digital Services Act; its moderation is in line with industry standards and is constantly improving. Telegram’s CEO Pavel Durov has nothing to hide and travels frequently in Europe. It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner is responsible for the misuse of that platform.”

This statement suggests that Telegram is shifting responsibility for illegal content onto its users rather than taking responsibility for the platform’s shortcomings. However, given the app’s lack of cooperation with authorities, it remains to be seen how Durov’s legal team will tackle these challenges.

While some argue that this is a case of state overreach, the investigation is ultimately clearly focused on combating criminal activity. Whether this will have wider implications for other messaging platforms remains an open question.