PARIS — Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov is promising stepped-up efforts to fight criminality on the messaging app, his first public comments since French authorities handed him preliminary charges for allegedly allowing the platform’s use for criminal activity.
In a Telegram post, Durov defended himself against the French judicial investigation, suggesting that he personally shouldn’t have been targeted.
“Using laws from the pre-smartphone era to charge a CEO with crimes committed by third parties on the platform he manages is a misguided approach,” the post said. “Building technology is hard enough as it is. No innovator will ever build new tools if they know they can be personally held responsible for potential abuse of those tools.”
While insisting that Telegram is not “some sort of anarchic paradise,” Durov said surging numbers of Telegram users “caused growing pains that made it easier for criminals to abuse our platform.”
“That’s why I made it my personal goal to ensure we significantly improve things in this regard. We’ve already started that process internally, and I will share more details on our progress with you very soon,” he said.
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has finally broken his silence following an investigation by French authorities into the messaging app’s potential use for illegal activities. The investigation, which began earlier this year, raised concerns about Telegram’s encryption policies and its potential to be used by criminals for communication.
In a statement released on his personal Telegram channel, Durov addressed the allegations and defended the app’s commitment to user privacy and security. He emphasized that Telegram does not tolerate any form of illegal activity on its platform and works closely with law enforcement agencies to combat misuse.
Durov also highlighted the importance of encryption in protecting users’ privacy and freedom of speech. He stated that Telegram’s end-to-end encryption ensures that only the intended recipients can access messages, making it virtually impossible for third parties to intercept or decipher communications.
The CEO acknowledged that while encryption can be misused by some individuals, it is a fundamental tool for protecting users’ rights and ensuring their safety online. He stressed that Telegram is constantly working to improve its security measures and prevent abuse of the platform.
Despite the ongoing investigation in France, Durov expressed confidence in Telegram’s ability to address any concerns raised by authorities and continue to provide a secure and private messaging service to its users. He urged users to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity on the app to help maintain a safe online environment.
In conclusion, Durov’s statement serves as a reassurance to Telegram users that the company is committed to upholding high standards of security and privacy. As the investigation continues, it remains to be seen how French authorities will respond to Durov’s defense of the app’s encryption policies.
