Telegram Says it is Compliant With EU Digital Services Act After Founder Pavel Durov’s Arrest

As a seasoned researcher with a keen interest in digital platforms and their impact on society, I find myself intrigued by the ongoing saga of Telegram and its CEO, Pavel Durov. The company’s recent statement claiming compliance with EU laws and adherence to industry norms in content moderation practices raises some interesting questions.

Telegram asserted that they adhere strictly to the laws of the European Union and their content moderation procedures fall under the standard practices observed across the industry.

According to a recent announcement, Telegram adheres to European Union regulations, including the Digital Services Act, ensuring that its moderation practices align with industry norms and are consistently evolving for improvement. The company’s CEO, Pavel Durov, maintains an open approach and frequently visits Europe.

A day following the CEO’s detention at a French airport by local officials, the arrest is connected to allegations about inadequate moderation practices on the platform, as perceived by French authorities.

According to preliminary media reports, it appears that prosecutors may be attributing responsibility to Durov and Telegram for alleged criminal activities which were coordinated or shared through the Telegram platform, though an official indictment has not been made public yet.

In a public announcement, Telegram stated that it’s illogical to hold the responsibility for misuse of the platform on either the platform itself or its owner.

In a recent announcement, Telegram referred back to a forecast made by Durov in March 2024, suggesting that the platform might encounter obstacles in its expansion due to its moderation policies.

“At that point, he noted that all significant social media applications are frequently criticized because of the content they allow on their platforms. He mentioned that he couldn’t remember a major social network whose moderation had consistently received positive reviews from mainstream news sources.”

As a crypto investor, I’ve noticed that Meta’s moderation efforts have predominantly received unfavorable coverage throughout its existence. However, it’s worth mentioning that Meta was the pioneer among social media companies to reach a valuation of over a trillion dollars. Reflecting on this, I anticipate that Telegram will need to traverse similar growth phases before it outperforms established platforms.