Russian internet guru Durov arrested in France

[Opti]

Russian internet guru Durov arrested in France

Story by IntelliNews • 20m • 4 min read

Interesting things afoot in other countries. Anyone been following this? The guy sounds a little like a Russian version of Elon Musk and X. 

www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/russian-internet-guru-durov-arrested-in-france/ar-AA1poGlg?ocid=BingNewsSerp


Founder of Telegram encrypted messenger exiled Russian internet guru Pavel Durov was arrested as he got off his private jet in France, TF1 and Le Monde reported on August 25.



Durov holds a dual French citizenship since 2021 was reportedly arrested in the airport of Le Bourget outside Paris, accompanied by his bodyguard and assistant, as they were making a stopover on the way from Azerbaijan on the way back to his home in St Petersburg.

Reportedly, the search warrant has been under an investigation involving various services, for Telegram not doing enough to prevent offences ranging from fraud, drug trafficking, cyber-bullying and organised crime to apology for terrorism and fraud, according to the sources of Le Monde. “Enough of Telegram's impunity”, one of the unnamed investigators told the daily.



Durov famously puts almost no restrictions on the content shared on his service. In its terms of service Telegram forbids the sharing of illegal content in public groups, but implicitly suggests that content can be shared in private groups. As a result the service, which offers reportedly uncrackable end-to-end encryption, has been popular with various criminal groups as a secure means to conduct illicit business.

In the meantime, in Russia, this week Telegram has been disrupted in Russia in a possible targeted blocking attempt, and independent media warned that Telegram could be falling out of favour with the Kremlin now.

[Opti]

Not sure if this is current, but I thought the quote was interesting.

Medvedev, the deputy head of Russia's Security Council, said Durov wanted to be a 'brilliant "man of the world" who lives wonderfully without a Motherland."

"He miscalculated," Medvedev said. "For all our common enemies now, he is Russian – and therefore unpredictable and dangerous."

www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/russia-s-medvedev-says-durov-miscalculated-by-fleeing-russia/ar-AA1poino?ocid=msedgntp&pc=DCTS&cvid=affecedcca0241d0bfe8b8127fafd70f&ei=16

[haapai]

I keep reading on it and my eye keeps on being drawn to the photograph that the NYT chooses to use in their stories.  I'm not sure why they are using a photo from 2014, but I can't look at it without thinking that the Times is hinting something.