Russia issues global arrest warrant for Telegram CEO Pavel Durov in terror case
New Delhi: Russia has charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with facilitating terrorist activities, marking a major escalation in Moscow’s long-running battle with the encrypted messaging platform. The country’s Federal Security Service (FSB) accused Telegram of failing to remove content allegedly used to coordinate sabotage, terrorism and cyber-fraud operations inside Russia.
The shift is also driven by a rise in pressure on encrypted communication services from the governments that wish to better regulate online information. Russia says it must do this for national security, but requests for more control have repeatedly been brought up by digital rights groups to raise concerns regarding privacy and freedom of expression. As of the time of this writing, Telegram and Durov have not made a public comment.
FSB accuses Telegram of failing to remove illegal content
The charges are related to the failure to remove content allegedly used by Ukrainian special services and terrorist and extremist groups for sabotage, terrorist acts, mass killings and cyber-fraud operations in Russia, the FSB said. The agency has also revealed that an arrest warrant had been issued against Durov on an international level.
Launched in 2013 by Durov, Telegram has become one of the world’s biggest messaging apps, boasting more than one billion users. It has been popular amongst civilians, journalists and officials, including those from both sides of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, because of its encrypted functions. Reuters reported the latest charges and allegations by FSB.
Durov faces legal pressure in multiple countries
The case is part of Durov’s array of legal issues. French officials have also been looking into whether Telegram was lax in its efforts to address crimes on its services or was not cooperating with law enforcement demands. Durov has said he is innocent of any misdeeds.
Along with the regulatory interest, Russia is also pushing its state-backed messaging service, “MAX“, as an alternative to Telegram, indicating the greater competition around digital communication platforms.