Telegram Founder Denounces French Legal Action as Baseless, Citing Free Speech Concerns

Pavel Durov, founder of encrypted messaging platform Telegram, has publicly condemned his recent arrest by French authorities as legally unfounded. In a Sunday post on his platform, Durov described the detention as unprecedented and illogical, arguing that holding tech executives accountable for user-generated content violates industry norms.

The case stems from French investigations into Telegram's content moderation policies, with authorities alleging the platform hosted harmful material. Durov maintains that Telegram complies with all legal requests and follows standard moderation practices. The ongoing requirement for biweekly reporting to French officials continues without a clear resolution timeline, which Durov claims damages France's reputation as a bastion of free expression.

The crypto community and free speech advocates have rallied behind Durov, viewing the case as government overreach. Critics accuse France of attempting to force censorship on the platform, while President Macron defends the actions as necessary legal protections of freedom within established frameworks.