- Telegram CEO Pavel Durov says he’s prepared to leave markets that aren’t compatible with the messaging app’s principles after being arrested in France.
- Durov mentioned having exited both Russia and Iran after finding the two markets incompatible with Telegram’s principles.
- French authorities released Durov under judicial supervision which requires the Telegram founder to stay in France.
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov recently posted a defiant message on his messaging app after being arrested in France. He stated that Telegram is willing to leave markets that conflict with the app’s principles.
Durov’s Arrest in France
Last month, Durov was arrested at a Paris airport and later indicted by a French court. He was charged with enabling the spread of child sexual images and other crimes like drug trafficking through Telegram’s encryption tools. The arrest was part of a larger cybercrime probe into Telegram’s alleged role in facilitating illegal activities.
Durov Says Telegram Will Leave Incompatible Markets
In his post, Durov denounced the grounds for his arrest in France. He also said Telegram is ready to exit markets that don’t align with its values. As examples, he cited Telegram previously leaving Russia and Iran due to incompatibilities.
“We are prepared to leave markets that aren’t compatible with our principles because we are not doing this for money,” wrote Durov. “We are driven by the intention to bring good and defend the basic rights of people, particularly in places where these rights are violated.”
Telegram’s Crypto Ties
The popular messaging app has generated significant revenue from crypto activities. As of 2023, Telegram held $400 million in digital assets according to a Financial Times report. Durov has valued Telegram at over $30 billion.
Conclusion
Durov’s defiant message shows Telegram’s willingness to sacrifice business in markets that conflict with its principles on privacy and encryption. His arrest highlights the ongoing tensions between governments wanting to monitor criminal activities on apps and companies protecting user data.
