Telegram CEO Durov Breaks Silence After Arrest, Vows Platform Safety Overhaul

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has publicly responded to his recent arrest in France, using the opportunity to emphasize the company's commitment to improving safety measures on the popular messaging platform while reaffirming its dedication to protecting user privacy. The arrest, which occurred twelve days ago, was related to charges of enabling criminal activity on Telegram, specifically the distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). In his statement, Durov expressed both surprise and disappointment at the legal actions, arguing that the French authorities did not leverage available channels for communication with Telegram.

In a post on his own platform, Durov remarked, "This was surprising for several reasons. Telegram has an official representative in the EU that accepts and replies to EU requests. Its email address has been publicly available for anyone in the EU who googles 'Telegram EU address for law enforcement.'" He criticized the use of outdated legislation to hold tech CEOs responsible for illegal activities that third parties commit on their platforms. Durov claimed that relying on "laws from the pre-smartphone era" to prosecute such cases is an ineffective and outdated approach.

Addressing Telegram’s Challenges: Growth and Commitment to Safety

Despite the legal concerns, Durov acknowledged some of the growing challenges that have come with the rapid expansion of Telegram. With the platform now serving over 950 million users, he admitted that its meteoric rise has presented content moderation issues, with some bad actors exploiting the platform.

He openly recognized these challenges, stating, "Telegram’s abrupt increase in user count to 950M caused growing pains that made it easier for criminals to abuse our platform." Durov then committed to making substantial improvements in platform safety, noting that efforts to address the problem have already begun internally. "That’s why I made it my personal goal to ensure we significantly improve things in this regard. We’ve already started that process internally, and I will share more details on our progress with you very soon," Durov added.

Balancing User Privacy with Security Demands

Durov emphasized Telegram’s long-standing commitment to user privacy, particularly in countries with authoritarian regimes. He acknowledged the delicate balance between maintaining user privacy and meeting global security regulations, a challenge exacerbated by varying legal standards across the world.

Highlighting this balancing act, Durov said, "Sometimes we can’t agree with a country’s regulator on the right balance between privacy and security. In those cases, we are ready to leave that country. We’ve done it many times." He cited past examples where Telegram took principled stands against government demands that conflicted with their core values. In Russia, for instance, Telegram refused to hand over encryption keys to authorities seeking to surveil users, resulting in a ban on Telegram within the country. Similarly, in Iran, Telegram faced a ban after declining requests to block channels used by peaceful protesters.

Despite these challenges, Durov reiterated Telegram's mission to protect fundamental human rights, stating, "We are prepared to leave markets that aren’t compatible with our principles because we are not doing this for money. We are driven by the intention to bring good and defend the basic rights of people, particularly in places where these rights are violated."

This public statement marks Durov's first response since his arrest, shedding light on the company’s approach to privacy, security, and content moderation amid growing scrutiny from governments around the world. As Telegram continues to expand, striking the right balance between these values remains central to its mission.