Pavel Durov Returns to Dubai Amid Ongoing Investigation Over Telegram

Pavel Durov, Telegram’s CEO, has returned to Dubai after his arrest in France. He remains under investigation but expressed gratitude towards his legal team and the judicial process. Durov aims to improve Telegram’s moderation in response to accusations of facilitating criminal activity through the app.

Pavel Durov, the CEO and founder of Telegram, has returned to Dubai after seven months following his arrest in France concerning allegations regarding criminal activities facilitated through the messaging app. Although he remains under investigation, a spokesperson from the Paris prosecutor’s office indicated that judicial supervision obligations were temporarily suspended from March 15 to April 7.

Durov stated on his Telegram channel that he is pleased to be back, expressing gratitude to the investigative judges and his legal team for their efforts. Reports confirm that he traveled to Dubai from the airport where he was previously arrested, covering a distance of approximately 3,300 miles.

Born in Russia and a citizen of both the United Arab Emirates and France, Durov founded Telegram in 2013. He departed from Russia in 2014 after resisting governmental orders to dismantle opposition groups on his prior social media platform, VKontakte, which he subsequently sold.

In August, Durovwas arrested by French authorities under a warrant related to offenses involving Telegram, including allegations of negligence in moderating content that could facilitate criminal acts. He described his arrest as both misguided and unexpected, emphasizing that he does not view his platform as an anarchic space for unlawful behavior.

Despite the challenges, Durov highlighted plans for enhancing Telegram’s moderation in an effort to better address criminal activities on the platform. He reaffirmed that the vast majority of Telegram users engage positively, with only a tiny fraction involved in illegal conduct, which tarnishes the platform’s reputation. Durov also mentioned that in December, Telegram established a partnership with the Internet Watch Foundation to proactively identify and eliminate problematic content.

In conclusion, Pavel Durov’s return to Dubai follows a controversial and challenging period marked by his arrest in France. Although under investigation, he aims to improve Telegram’s moderation practices to alleviate concerns regarding criminal activities associated with the platform. Durov’s commitment to enhancing safety for his vast user base reflects ongoing efforts to address criticisms and further solidify Telegram’s standing in the digital communication sphere.

Original Source: www.upi.com