Through X, Telegram asserts that it’s “absurd” for social media owners to be held accountable when their platforms are misused.
On August 26, Telegram’s X account issued a statement affirming that the platform complies with European laws, including the Digital Services Act. This announcement came just one day after the platform’s founder and CEO, Pavel Durov, was arrested in France.
Pavel Durov has nothing to hide and frequently travels to Europe on business. It’s unreasonable to claim that a platform or its owner should be responsible for its misuse,” Telegram wrote.
The company emphasized that its platform’s moderation practices are “industry-standard and constantly improving.” The statement continued, “Nearly a billion users worldwide rely on Telegram for communication and as a vital source of information. We are eagerly awaiting a swift resolution to this situation.”
Previously, Telegram’s founder was arrested upon landing in France on August 24. OFMIN, the French agency tasked with combating violence against minors, issued an arrest warrant for Durov, accusing the platform of insufficient moderation and a lack of cooperation with authorities. Telegram’s encryption features are also believed to facilitate criminal activities without obstruction, potentially making Durov an accomplice in drug trafficking, cyber violence, fraud, organized crime, and incitement of terrorism. The Telegram CEO could face up to 20 years in prison.
The Guardian, citing sources close to the case, reported that authorities may extend Durov’s detention. The initial detention period for questioning can last up to 96 hours, after which a judge will decide whether to release the defendant or prosecute and detain him further.
Telegram currently attracts around 950 million users globally, according to Durov’s July statement. However, in recent years, the platform has faced criticism for allowing the spread of misinformation, extremist content, and illegal activities. Durov’s stance on privacy and his refusal to moderate content on Telegram have made him a controversial figure. Earlier this year, he reaffirmed his commitment to keeping Telegram “neutral.”
After Durov’s arrest, Elon Musk, owner of X, repeatedly posted in opposition. He shared videos of the Telegram CEO’s statements along with the hashtag #FreeDurov, emphasizing the importance of protecting free speech and opposing Europe’s approach.
Platform Responsibility for User Content
A major debate on the Internet for many years has been whether websites and content-hosting services—such as YouTube, Facebook, X, or the comment sections of news sites—should be legally responsible for the content posted by users.
Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act in the United States, enacted in 1996, currently protects social media platforms from lawsuits over content. However, it has become increasingly controversial as the “soft power” of Internet companies has grown significantly.
Lawmakers are concerned that the immunity provided by the law enables the spread and promotion of harmful content to vulnerable groups like children, while allowing companies to disregard misinformation and dangerous material. Nevertheless, some argue that holding websites legally accountable could stifle the growth of the Internet, forcing service providers to be overly cautious about every piece of content on their platforms.
