Telegram founder Pavel Durov detained amid ongoing government scrutiny

Pavel Durov, founder of the messaging app Telegram, was detained by French authorities on Saturday as part of an investigation into whether online platforms are enabling criminal activities.

According to an exclusive piece by The Wall Street Journal, Durov's complex relationship with France began with a 2018 lunch with President Emmanuel Macron, where Macron encouraged him to move Telegram to Paris. However, the CEO of Telegram refused. It is reported that Durov's French citizenship was also discussed at the same meeting.

This meeting occurred shortly after a joint espionage operation by French and U.A.E. spies had targeted him in 2017, successfully hacking Durov's iPhone in a mission dubbed "Purple Music." This operation was largely driven by concerns over the Islamic State's use of Telegram for recruitment and planning.

Durov's app attracts a wide range of users, from democracy activists to criminal organizations, which has put him in a difficult position with authorities around the world. For years, Telegram has resisted government subpoenas and court orders, leading to mounting tensions with law enforcement.

Telegram claims it now complies with the European Union's Digital Services Act, which requires internet companies to cooperate with authorities to combat the spread of illegal content on their platforms.

In 2021, Durov was granted citizenship in France and the UAE. That same year, the Gulf countries invested more than $75 million in Telegram.