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Telegram CEO Pavel Durov announced that the platform will now disclose data on users who violate its rules to authorities upon “valid legal requests.”

Let’s bring you up to speed: Pavel Durov, who holds dual citizenship in France and Russia, was arrested by French authorities and is facing multiple charges, including conspiracy in the distribution of child sexual abuse materials, money laundering, and drug trafficking on the Telegram platform. The accusations against Durov stem from his alleged refusal to cooperate with law enforcement requests for information related to these criminal activities.

What Durov said: In a statement, Durov said, “We’ve made it clear that the IP addresses and phone numbers of those who violate our rules can be disclosed to relevant authorities in response to valid legal requests. These measures should discourage criminals. Telegram Search is meant for finding friends and discovering news, not for promoting illegal goods. We won’t let bad actors jeopardize the integrity of our platform for almost a billion users.”

Digging deeper: Pavel Durov’s arrest by French authorities has sparked significant international pushback, particularly regarding the balance between privacy, free speech, and platform responsibility. Despite claims by French authorities, some have argued that Western authorities are targeting Durov for refusing to grant intelligence agencies a “back door” to the platform.

Critics suggest that this refusal has led to increased scrutiny and legal pressure from Western governments, who view Telegram’s strong privacy protections as an obstacle to national security. There are also claims that Durov’s arrest is an “attack on free speech.”

Another view: French President Emmanuel Macron has addressed the arrest of Pavol and claims that it was politically motivated. In a statement on X, he said, “I have seen false information regarding France following the arrest of Pavel Durov. France is deeply committed to freedom of expression and communication, to innovation, and to the spirit of entrepreneurship. It will remain so. In a state governed by the rule of law, freedoms are upheld within a legal framework, both on social media and in real life, to protect citizens and respect their fundamental rights. It is up to the judiciary, in full independence, to enforce the law. The arrest of the president of Telegram on French soil took place as part of an ongoing judicial investigation. It is in no way a political decision. It is up to the judges to rule on the matter.”