Durov Under Fire: France and Russia Both Target Telegram CEO
Telegram's founder faces a dozen charges in France and a Russian criminal case, becoming Europe's test case for CEO accountability.
Pavel Durov is having a very bad time. The Telegram CEO is staring down a French probe involving a dozen preliminary charges while simultaneously dealing with a Russian criminal case accusing him of "aiding terrorism."
It's a remarkable squeeze play. Two governments on opposite sides of the geopolitical spectrum both want a piece of the messaging app founder — for very different reasons.
In Europe, Durov has become the face of a growing movement to hold tech CEOs personally accountable for what happens on their platforms. France isn't messing around with a dozen charges on the table.
Meanwhile, Russia — where Durov originally built his tech empire before leaving — is pursuing him on terrorism-related allegations.
The dual-front legal battle makes Durov arguably the most legally embattled tech CEO on the planet right now. Running a messaging platform used by hundreds of millions apparently comes with strings attached — no matter which direction you look.