Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed confusion over France’s investigation into Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, who was placed under formal investigation last week.
Speaking at an economic forum, Putin characterized the French actions as having a “selective character.”
Putin mentioned that he had met Durov once several years ago but had no further contact with him since then. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also stated last month that he was unaware of any meetings between Durov and Putin.
The French investigation is focused on allegations that Telegram has been used for illegal activities, including fraud, money laundering, and child pornography. Durov’s legal team has denounced the proceedings as “absurd.”
In a related discussion, prominent figures such as Elon Musk and Joe Rogan have voiced their concerns about the investigation. Rogan questioned the fairness of holding Durov accountable for the misuse of Telegram, drawing comparisons to how platforms like Google are also used for illegal activities without facing similar scrutiny.
The arrest of Durov, who holds dual French and Emirati citizenship, took place at an airport near Paris on August 24th, as he arrived from Baku, Azerbaijan. The charges against him have sparked debate about the broader implications for tech companies and their responsibility for content on their platforms.
The investigation into Telegram comes amid growing global concerns about the power and regulation of digital platforms. Governments are increasingly scrutinizing how these platforms handle illegal content, leading to heightened regulatory actions that could impact the operations and policies of major tech companies worldwide.
Reuters, the New Yorker, and Benzinga contributed to this report.
