Telegram CEO Pavel Durov denies platform is an anarchic paradise

Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, was forced into exile in Dubai in 2014 after the Russian government took over VKontakte, a social network he had created. Durov has expressed surprise at being held responsible for other people's content on Telegram, stating that using outdated laws to regulate the platform is a misguided approach. In 2024, Durov was detained in France as part of an investigation into Telegram's alleged lack of content moderation, with French authorities questioning him about the platform's role in facilitating crimes.