Nine months after his spectacular arrest at Le Bourget airport, the founder of Telegram delivers his first television interview to Tucker Carlson. Between misunderstanding and distrust, Pavel Durov firmly disputes the French accusations. What really hides this affair that rocked the world of tech?
In short
- Pavel Durov has granted his first public interview since his arrest in August 2024 in Paris.
- The founder of Telegram formally disputes the French accusations and claims to have “done nothing wrong”.
- The French authorities would not have followed the usual legal procedures to contact Telegram.
Pavel Durov of Telegram empty his bag
Pavel Durov does not mince words. Faced with Tucker Carlson on June 9, the founder of Telegram expresses his amazement concerning his arrest of August 24, 2024.
“” To be honest, I'm still looking for answers. I'm lost He says with disconcerting candor.
Durov, charged with six counts including the complicity of criminal activity and money laundering, claims the total transparency of his business.
“” We are a large company, we are audited by a Big Four accounting firm He insists. Telegram spends millions of dollars each quarter in legal compliance to operate legally in nearly 200 countries.
This vehement defense contrasts with the image conveyed by the French prosecution. The authorities accuse Telegram of facilitating illicit activities thanks to moderation deemed insufficient.
However, Durov assures that French investigators seemed mainly interested in the simple functioning of its platform, ” As if it was a kind of mystery ».
The founder also denounces an irregular procedure. According to him, the French authorities would never have followed the official channels to request information in Telegram.
This accusation echoes the recent declarations of the platform, which affirms that France did not properly use the procedures of the Digital Services Act European.
An arrest with the appearance of a political staging
The most disturbing aspect of this case lies in its media coverage. Tucker Carlson does not hesitate to qualify the arrest of deliberate “act of humiliation”. This observation finds a particular echo in Durov's explanations concerning the communication of the French prosecution.
“” Obviously, they did everything possible to humiliate you “, underlines The American journalist. Durov nods, recalling that his lawyers have confirmed to him the unusual advertisement given to his business.
Unlike the usual parquet practices, which generally operates in discretion, the arrest of the founder of Telegram has been the subject of numerous press releases.
This media strategy contrasts strongly with the massive support from which Durov benefits. More than 9 million Telegram users have signed an open letter demanding its release, thus testifying to the international impact of this case.
The Ton community, the blockchain ecosystem associated with Telegram, even celebrated as a “victory for freedom of expression” the fact that Durov could leave France in March 2025.
The interview with Carlson marks a turning point in Durov's communication. Since September 2024, the founder had already announced the color: Telegram was ready to leave the countries incompatible with his commitment to freedom of expression.
This firmness position is confirmed today, while the platform has recently threatened to leave France rather than accepting the installation of “stolen doors” in its encryption system.
A battle that goes beyond the French framework
This Durov affair is part of a broader context of tensions between digital platforms and European regulators. Telegram, which now has more than a billion monthly active users, represents a major strategic issue for the Western authorities.
Recent developments show that the battle is far from over. France is trying to impose its vision of digital control, while Telegram defends its model based on the protection of privacy.
This confrontation could create a previous determinant for the future of the regulation of encrypted messaging in Europe.
In short, while the Durov affair continues to shake up relations between tech and European regulators, Telegram takes a new dimension. With $ 1.5 billion raised and a strategic agreement signed with Elon Musk AI, the platform is an essential player, combining political resistance and technological expansion worldwide.
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