Tag: pavel durov
Telegram chief’s arrest ignites global cyber-war
In the wake of Telegram owner and founder Pavel Durov’s shock arrest in Paris on Saturday, the French state is being hit by a growing wave of cyber-attacks designed to cause maximum embarrassment to beleaguered French president Emmanuel Macron. Durov was released from police custody in France on Wednesday and has been transferred to court for questioning ahead of a possible indictment that could result in a long prison sentence. A post on X by SaxX, reportedly the nom de Twitter of cybersecurity consultant Clément Domingo, listed 10 websites in France that bore the brunt of the first wave of cyber-attacks orchestrated by a new online hacktivist group, #opDurov.
Telegram chief arrested in Paris
Speculation is today mounting concerning the arrest of the popular encrypted messaging app Telegram head and founder, Pavel Durov, at Le Bourget airport north of Paris on Saturday evening. The arrest has been widely reported in France, although the authorities have yet to issue a full statement. In the past, the French president. Emmanuel Macron and his team have been enthusiastic users of Telegram, using it to orchestrate their political strategies. But Durov’s arrest on Saturday is now being seen as part of an attempt by the UK and the European Union to curtail the reach and influence of largely unregulated communications platforms such as Telegram and X (formerly Twitter). This theory is born out of sources close to the situation, who believe that Durov will face charges of complicity in drug trafficking, crimes against children, and fraud – all allegedly stemming from a lack of moderation controls on Telegram.