Uncertain future Telegram founder arrested - what will happen to the app now?
Telegram has long been accused of not taking sufficient action against illegal content. This now has consequences for company founder Pawel Durow. But what will become of the app?
The founder of the messaging service Telegram, Pawel Durow, is still in police custody following his arrest in France, according to media reports. Several French media outlets unanimously reported, citing investigative circles, that the police custody was extended on Sunday evening. The chat service itself is defending itself against the accusations.
In a statement, the company wrote that it complies with all applicable rules, including the new digital law DSA, which is intended to bring about a more consistent crackdown on illegal content and activities on large online platforms. Durow "has nothing to hide" and travels frequently in Europe. In addition, it is "absurd" to hold a platform or its owner responsible for the misuse of the service by third parties.
Drug trafficking? Fraud? Child abuse?
Telegram has long been accused of not taking sufficient action against hate speech and other illegal activities. The company itself emphasizes that this is within "the standards of the industry".
However, the French judiciary may see things differently. According to reports, preliminary investigations have been underway against Durow for some time. The suspicion is that he was complicit in drug trafficking, fraud and several offenses in connection with child abuse due to a lack of intervention at Telegram and insufficient cooperation with the authorities. The Franco-Russian was therefore wanted by the authorities.
What will happen to the app?
It is still unclear what will happen to Telegram after Durov's arrest. Media law expert Jonas Kahl told Bild newspaper that the action could be aimed at persuading Telegram to cooperate more closely in future. The service has already been temporarily blocked in Brazil, presumably for similar reasons.
The service was also blocked in Spain this year. The Supreme Criminal Court ordered this in March after Telegram failed to respond to requests from the judiciary.
However, a complete ban in Switzerland is currently rather unlikely. As in Germany, we will probably have to wait for the relevant EU guidelines. And even in the event of a ban, implementation would not be that easy, as this would only make new installations impossible. However, those who already use Telegram could continue to do so.
dpa
