Telegram CEO’s Legal Troubles Escalate as Indonesia Threatens Nationwide Telegram Ban

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has just been released from France, but his legal troubles are far from over. Durov is now grappling with a new challenge, this time from Indonesia, where his messaging platform is under the threat of a nationwide ban.

Durov’s release on Wednesday came after a dramatic arrest at Le Bourget Airport near Paris. He was detained for complicity in organized crime, child pornography distribution, and drug trafficking through Telegram.

Even though he is out on bail, he is not allowed to leave France and is required to check in with the police twice a week.

Amid the existing chaos, Telegram faces a significant challenge in Indonesia. Communication and Informatics Minister Budi Arie Setiadi revealed that the Ministry had issued strict warnings to Telegram and popular live streaming app Bigo Live but received inadequate responses from them at this time.

The Indonesian government blamed Telegram for failing to curb the spread of terrorist content, hate speech, and misinformation. As one of Telegram’s largest markets, Indonesia has expressed ongoing concerns regarding the platform’s utilization by extremist groups.

In the past few months, the Indonesian government has ramped up its pressure on the messaging app, demanding the company to monitor and remove illegal content.

The Indonesian official argued that Telegram’s efforts have been insufficient and the ban is inevitable if Telegram fails to improve its moderation practices. “I would prefer to shut down Bigo Live and Telegram immediately, but a team needs to conduct further studies first,” Setiadi said on Wednesday.

This new threat from Indonesia comes at a challenging time for Durov, who is already battling a plethora of legal issues in France. Banning Telegram in Indonesia could have a detrimental effect on Telegram’s user base and reputation.

Following Durov’s arrest in France last weekend, Telegram had issued a statement reaffirming its commitment to European Union regulations. “Telegram abides by EU laws, including the Digital Services Act – its moderation is within industry standards and constantly improving,” it said.

According to the statement, Durov has nothing to hide and he frequently travels to Europe, stating it is “absurd to claim that a platform or its owners are responsible for the abuse of that platform.”

Previously, whistleblower Edward Snowden expressed his concerns about Durov’s arrest, calling it “an assault on the basic human rights of speech and association.”

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