The FSB alleges Telegram failed to remove content used for sabotage and cyber fraud, escalating tensions with the platform’s founder.
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has accused Telegram founder Pavel Durov of aiding terrorism and issued an international arrest warrant. The charges stem from Telegram’s alleged failure to remove content linked to Ukrainian special services and extremist groups, which the FSB claims facilitated sabotage and cyber fraud in Russia.
Durov was previously arrested in France in August 2024 on 12 charges, including insufficient content moderation enabling child exploitation and drug trafficking. He was released under judicial supervision but remains restricted from leaving France. Neither Durov nor Telegram has commented on the latest allegations.
The accusations highlight growing regulatory pressure on Telegram, which has faced scrutiny over its moderation policies in multiple jurisdictions.