Billionaire Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of Telegram, was arrested on Saturday at Bourget airport near Paris, according to reports from local media. Durov was arriving on his private jet from Azerbaijan when local authorities detained him.
Investigation Details
The investigation into Durov focuses on allegations regarding insufficient moderation on the Telegram platform. Authorities believe this lack of oversight has allowed criminal activities to thrive unregulated on the messaging service.
Earlier this year, in an interview with Tucker Carlson, Durov discussed the continual challenges he faces from governments around the world, particularly in Russia and the United States. Telegram is known for its robust encryption policies, which Durov has steadfastly defended against government requests for backdoor access for investigatory purposes.
Incident Impact on TON Token
Following the news of Durov's arrest, the TON token, associated with Telegram, experienced a sharp decline. It dropped as much as 17% at one point, with its trading value currently resting at approximately $5.83, reflecting a 14% decrease in recent hours, according to data from Coingecko.
Elon Musk's Reaction
Elon Musk responded on social media to Durov's arrest, expressing his support for the Telegram founder. He emphasized the importance of free speech protections guaranteed by the First Amendment in the United States, making a pointed remark: “It’s 2030 in Europe, and people are getting executed for liking memes.” Musk also referred to reports suggesting that Durov might face a prison sentence of up to 20 years.
Additionally, the team behind the TON blockchain took to social media to address the situation, stating, “Following the recent news related to Telegram's founder Pavel Durov, we want to assure everyone that the TON community remains strong and fully operational.”
