Telegram slams accusations of ‘abuse of platform’ vs. owner

MOSCOW: The Telegram messenger team denounced the arrest of its owner, Pavel Durov, and called the attempts to hold him and the platform responsible for alleged "abuse' absurd. "Telegram abides by EU laws, including the Digital Services Act - its moderation is within industry standards and constantly improving," it said on the Telegram News channel. "Telegram's CEO Pavel Durov has nothing to hide and travels frequently in Europe. It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform," it said. The platform has almost a billion subscribers globally as a means of communication and a source of vital information. Durov was arrested at Paris' Le Bourget Airport on August 24. According to the TF1television channel, Durov might be charged with terrorism, drug trafficking, fraud, money laundering, and child pornography. On Sunday, the Paris prosecutor's office promised to make a statement on the matter Monday. Source: Philippines News Agency