Pavel Durov, the co-founder and CEO of Telegram, was reportedly arrested at an airport in Paris. The arrest took place at Le Bourget airport by French police after Durov arrived from Azerbaijan. Reports suggest that Durov, who holds both French and United Arab Emirates citizenship, was arrested as part of a police investigation into criminal activities facilitated on Telegram.
French media outlets highlighted concerns about criminal content on Telegram, including illegal sports broadcasts, organized crime activities, and the exchange of child pornography. While there has been no official confirmation of the arrest or actions against Telegram from French authorities, Durov could potentially face indictment.
Telegram, founded by Durov and based in Dubai, has close to one billion users and is popular in Russia, Ukraine, and other former Soviet republics. The platform has played a significant role in sharing updates on the Russia-Ukraine conflict and emphasizes user privacy and freedom of speech.
In an interview earlier this year, Durov expressed his desire for Telegram to remain a neutral platform and not engage in geopolitics to protect user privacy and freedom of speech. The arrest of Durov prompted criticism from Elon Musk, who warned of threats to free speech in Europe.
The situation also led to reactions from other tech figures, including Rumble CEO Chris Pavlovski, who expressed concerns about freedom of expression. Russia’s Foreign Ministry reportedly raised the issue with France’s Foreign Ministry.
This article is based on reports from various sources and includes a mix of opinions and statements from involved parties. Could you please rephrase that?
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