GUWAHATI: Pavel Durov, the Founder and CEO of Telegram, was detained in France on Saturday night, August 26, due to an investigation concerning the app's insufficient moderation. The Russian embassy in France has demanded consular access and that Durov's rights be respected. They have also criticised France for not engaging with them regarding his situation.
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The billionaire was taken into custody by French authorities after his private jet landed at Le Bourget Airport on Saturday evening. The arrest occurred following complaints from Telegram users about the absence of moderators on the platform, which has led to concerns about the app being a hotspot for criminal activities.
Here’s all we know about the billionaire who has made headlines for unfavorable reasons:
1. Pavel Durov, a 39-year-old Russian-born billionaire, born on October 10, 1984, is the founder and CEO of Telegram, with an estimated net worth of $15.5 billion.
2. Durov's career began with the creation of VKontakte in 2006, Russia’s equivalent to Facebook, which became the country’s largest social networking site.
3. In 2014, Durov left Russia after refusing to shut down opposition networks on VKontakte, subsequently selling his stake in the company.
4. He launched Telegram in 2013, following his departure from VKontakte.
5. Telegram now boasts hundreds of millions of users globally and is projected to reach one billion monthly active users within the next year.
6. The app enjoys widespread popularity in Russia, Ukraine, and other former Soviet states.
7. In 2018, Russia attempted to ban Telegram after Durov refused to provide state security agents access to users' encrypted messages, prompting protests and criticism from NGOs.
8. After leaving Russia, Durov established Telegram’s headquarters in Dubai.
9. Durov acquired French citizenship in 2021 and is also reported to hold citizenship in the United Arab Emirates.
Durov's revelation: Father to over 100 children
Amidst his legal troubles, Pavel Durov made a shocking personal revelation that has captured global attention. In a post on Telegram, Durov claimed that he has fathered over 100 children across 12 countries through sperm donation.
Durov explained that his journey into fatherhood began 15 years ago when a close friend struggling with infertility asked him to donate sperm. Intrigued by the request, Durov visited a clinic where he was informed that he was considered "top-tier donor material." The clinic suggested that his donations could help couples around the world who were facing similar challenges. Although initially hesitant, Durov was persuaded by the unconventional nature of the proposal and agreed to become a sperm donor.
