Telegram Founder Pavel Durov Discloses His Arrest Details in Interview with Tucker Carlson, Discussing EU Policies
Straight Talkin' with Pavel Durov: A Shell Game in Paris
2nd Time Around: Pavel Durov meets Tucker Carlson again, this time in the City of Lights. Frame from the video interview
In an informal chat with ardent journalist Tucker Carlson, tech mogul Pavel Durov spilled the beans on his recent run-in with Parisian law enforcement. One year on since their last encounter in Dubai, this time their conversation took place in a French café, due to ongoing judicial saga trapping the billionaire in the capital.
Durov opened up about his ongoing case and gave a scathing critique of the European Union, comparing it unfavorably to the USSR—"only in terms of freedom," he clarified. Beset by his sick mother, distanced from his kids living in Dubai, and an uncertain court date, the Telegram founder remains resolute, promiseing to return to France if he's given the green light.
Durov walked Tucker through the unexpected detainment at Charles de Gaulle airport in August '24—he'd planned a casual trip, as he stated, "I was just going to hang out for a couple of days and then head to Finland." Little did he know, it would be a trip fraught with legal complications and questionable treatment.
Bedbug EconomyAccording to Durov, his understanding of the situation was initially confused—"I thought it might be some kind of Olympic-related check." Arrest authorities took his phone, leaving only one call to his assistant for comfort - hardly comforting considering the magnitude of the charges that followed: 16 of them!
Durov was lodged in a minuscule cell—a mere 7 square meters—a "room without a window" he described, with less than ideal mattress-COCKROACH synergy. Illumination was non-stop and flickery, as he explained, "[the light was] constantly flickering." On the plus side, he didn't have to go hungry, "I don't eat meat or fast food, they gave me fish." He even managed his daily 200 push-ups and 200 squats routine amidst the chaos.
"Plagued by Trojans"
Carlson probed Durov about the claim that the US government demands developers to install backdoors for intelligence agencies' data access. The founder of Telegram disclosed why he opted out of settling in the states: "In the US, there are norms that allow the government to force any IT engineer in a company to introduce vulnerabilities in programs for access by intelligence agencies. And not to tell the employer about it under threat of imprisonment—engineers are made to sign special non-disclosure agreements."
Still reeling from the "unexpected place" of his detainment—compared to various alleged authoritarian nations visited on his tour, without incident—"I visited several countries on that trip, some of which are considered authoritarian in the West, and I had no problems." He also criticized the "absurd" reforms suggested in France, calling the plan to force messengers to leave a "backdoor" in their apps for law enforcement a recipe for disaster—criminals could exploit such vulnerabilities.
Carlson pressed Durov on the topic of privacy invasions, questioning if there were methods to detect when one's phone had been hacked. "No, there isn't a definitive way," the billionaire acknowledged, "But there are ways to check and understand if vulnerabilities have been introduced in the phone. I know there are organizations that can help you with this."
Family Matters
In a candid moment, Durov lamented over the effect his detention had on his family: "I can't see them, and I can't sign certain documents that I need to. It's very stressful for my mother... I also have to manage the company remotely, but it's not as effective."
Evoking memories of the Soviet Union, Durov shared a poignant anecdote from a translator-emigrant during his interrogation: "After two days, she said in front of the police and everyone there: 'I left the Soviet Union hoping to live in a free country. But it seems like the USSR has caught up with me...' People born and raised in France take freedom for granted."
On a more hopeful note, Durov expressed hope for a resolution and the chance to visit France once more, "if he wins the case, he will probably visit France again, because 'it's a great place to spend time'."
The Telegram Vs. The French: A Battle of Ideas
- Pavel Durov, during his conversation with Tucker Carlson, criticized the European Union, drawing parallels with the USSR in terms of freedom, while expressing concerns over the French government's proposed measures for easier access to data through messaging apps, comparing it to Trojans in the realm of technology and politics.
- Despite the challenges he faced in France, including legal complications and detainment, Durov's love for the country remains, as he stated, "if he wins the case, he will probably visit France again, because 'it's a great place to spend time'", highlighting the impact of politics and general news on his personal life and experiences.
