26 Aug 2024

Billionare CEO of Telegram app to appear before court

From Nights, 10:18 pm on 26 August 2024

The billionaire owner of encrypted messaging service Telegram Pavel Durov has been arrested in France amid an investigation into illegal activity on the platform.

While Telegram supporters label Durov a 'free-speech hero', the service's relaxed approach to content moderation, has seen researchers raise concerns about the spread of misinformation, extremism and illicit activity, like drug sales and child pornography.

Dr Olivier Jutel from the University of Otago's Media, Film and Communication department joins Emile Donovan to explain.

Moscow, Russia, 29-07-2023: New Elon Musk's twitter X app on smartphone screen surrounded by other social media network apps. Twitter rebranding. Modern social media communication.

Apps for social media services including Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Threads, Telegram and others. Photo: Victor Okhrimets / 123RF