At an economic forum in Vladivostok on September 5, 2024, Vladimir Putin addressed France's recent actions against Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram. The Russian President expressed bewilderment regarding the investigation, describing it as having a "selective character."
Putin claimed to have met Durov once in the past but stated they had not maintained contact since. This assertion contradicts a statement made by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov last month, who said he was unaware of any meeting between the two.
The French investigation into Durov, initiated last week, concerns the alleged use of Telegram for illicit activities such as fraud, money laundering, and child pornography. Durov's legal representative has dismissed these proceedings as absurd.
Telegram, founded by Durov in 2013, has grown to become a global messaging platform with over 700 million monthly active users as of 2024. The app is renowned for its emphasis on privacy and encryption, particularly its "Secret Chats" feature which employs end-to-end encryption.
Despite its popularity, Telegram has faced scrutiny and restrictions in various countries, including Russia and Iran. The platform's strong privacy features have made it a tool for political movements and protests worldwide, but have also raised concerns about its potential misuse by extremist groups.
Durov, often referred to as "Russia's Mark Zuckerberg," left his home country in 2014 and became a citizen of Saint Kitts and Nevis. He has been vocal in his criticism of other messaging apps and has publicly refused to cooperate with Russian security services.
The investigation in France adds to the ongoing global debate about the balance between privacy and security in digital communications. As Telegram continues to grow, with the introduction of a premium subscription model in 2022, the platform faces increasing scrutiny from governments and regulatory bodies worldwide.
"I do not understand the actions of France against Pavel Durov. They seem to have a selective character."
This situation highlights the complex relationship between technology companies, governments, and issues of national security and privacy in the digital age.