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Who is Pavel Durov and what is Telegram?

Telegram is one of the world's most popular apps where groups of up to 200,000 users can exchange messages.

According to officials, the arrest was under a warrant for offences related to the app and the investigation is reportedly about insufficient moderation, with Mr Durov accused of failing to take steps to curb criminal uses of Telegram. Edward Snowden, the American whistleblower who now lives in Russia after revealing extensive internet and phone surveillance by US intelligence, said on X that Mr Durov's arrest "is an assault on the basic human rights of speech and association". He added: "I am surprised and deeply saddened that [French President Emmanuel] Macron has descended to the level of taking hostages as a means for gaining access to private communications.

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