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The Tucker Carlson Podcast » Pavel Durov Speaks Out for the First Time Since His Politically-Motivated Arrest in France
5 minutes smart summary
Last August, arriving in Paris on a tourist visit, I was met by police at the airport. Initially, I assumed it was Olympic-related security. Instead, they presented a list of sixteen charges – all sorts of crimes. It was bewildering, especially considering our company's commitment to the highest standards and my own clean record. It became clear this wasn't about something *I* had done, but about how some individuals were using Telegram.
I was driven away in a police motorcade, ironically similar to escorts I'd received while visiting heads of state. My phone was confiscated, and I spent four days in custody in a seven-square-meter, windowless concrete cell. The room contained a narrow bed with a yoga-mat-thin mattress and a constantly blinking light – utter solitude.
The reason, I later learned, was Telegram's alleged lack of response to French judicial requests. This was simply untrue; we never received a legally binding request. We already had a Digital Services Act-compliant system in place to disclose IP addresses and phone numbers of criminal suspects with court orders through our Belgian entity. Other countries used this system effectively. Why not France? Especially given my French citizenship, this felt unprecedented. The authorities know my address; the French consulate shares the same building as our Telegram office in Dubai, just two floors below. They could easily have contacted me, yet they chose a public arrest at the airport, a move seemingly designed for maximum humiliation and intimidation.
It was unexpected being arrested in France. Prior to that trip, I had visited numerous countries, some considered autocratic, where Telegram is popular. I experienced zero issues, despite our commitment to zero censorship and complete privacy. The irony of being arrested in the free West wasn't lost on me.
If Zuckerberg or Musk were grabbed at De Gaulle, the world would stop. In my case, it felt like some thought, "Oh, he's got a Russian last name. It's fine." Ethnicity seems to play a role. Despite leaving Russia and making it clear I wasn't involved in whatever angered them, it makes me an easier target because my story isn’t widely known.
Some defended me, thankfully; millions signed a petition. But where were the human rights watchdogs? This feels like something out of North Korea, yet in France, it’s shrugged off. It’s complicated because the investigation should be unbiased, regardless of jurisdiction.
During those four days of detention, they asked about Telegram's operations as if it were some kind of enigma. We're a large, established company, audited by a Big Four firm, collaborating with major financial institutions, and spending millions on legal compliance in nearly 200 countries. Learning that Telegram supposedly erred was shocking. The law clearly outlines the process for requests, which wasn't followed. French prosecutors could have discovered this online in minutes. The irony is thick.
Months later, I'm still in France under judicial control, restricting my travel. I can go to Dubai, but it's controlled. With a multi-billion-dollar company and a billion users, why would I run? I’m here to answer questions about Telegram every few months. The rest of the time, my presence is hard to justify. The whole situation is confusing.
So, I can't leave France freely, which, you could say, makes me imprisoned. Though, I don't want viewers picturing a real prison cell. Think of it as France – very first world in some ways, but not in its attitudes. My kids are in Dubai, and I can't legally take care of them right now, signing documents and such. It’s stressful, especially for my gravely ill mom, whom I can’t see.
This also impacts the company, with a billion users. I'm running it remotely, but it's not as efficient. France is less than 1% of Telegram's user base – maybe half of 1%. Yet, the entire organization is impacted by this investigation here, despite only needing my presence once every few months. The restriction feels strange and unnecessary.
Everything is possible, including being criminally charged. But this whole thing shouldn't have happened based on a media article claiming Telegram is uncooperative or has worse content moderation than other platforms – both completely false. They should've verified things thoroughly first. Decisions like this impact not just me and my company, but France itself.
As a French citizen, I worry about that. Telegram was probably the most friendly potential partner for France. Every time French authorities reached out, I helped. This feels like friendly fire, attacking their own ally, with significant collateral damage for France's image. CEOs of big tech companies are concerned, asking if it's still safe to come to France.
It's part of the Digital Services Act; you have to remove whatever a European country demands across the entire EU. Imagine Romania, Estonia, or any nation demanding the removal of Telegram channels for some reason. You appeal, but removal must be swift, or face fines and bans. How is that not Soviet? If you criticize those in charge, they shut you down. That's tyranny; that's the definition.
Telegram channels, unlike some platforms, aren't promoted. Everything is deliberately searched for. It's a completely neutral platform; everyone expresses their voice within common sense rules. People can then decide which viewpoint makes the most sense. That's freedom.
Regarding encryption, with advances in computing power, quantum computing, encryption has to evolve. Tools to decrypt become stronger, so tools to encrypt do too. State actors have almost infinite computing power and technologies they may not disclose.
The biggest privacy risk is a state actor penetrating a device. There are zero-day vulnerabilities governments exploit. If targeted, a Trojan like Pegasus could be installed. I know; I was one of those people eight years ago. Knowing for certain if your phone has been compromised is difficult, but organizations can help check for exploited vulnerabilities. I find phones distracting and harmful to my privacy. I prefer laptops or iPads to focus and interact with my team, not disappear consuming short-form content.
https://blossom.primal.net/38d4309a5c1663a2af1d9f17f5651ebb85af451a9cdcf15aca464b46a50db2c6