Telegram Messenger stated on Sunday that it abides by the laws of the European Union, including the Digital Services Act (DSA), after its CEO Pavel Durov was arrested in France over the app's alleged failure to moderate illegal content posted by users. "It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform," Telegram claimed, stressing that its moderation is "within industry standards and constantly improving." The DSA requires platforms to put in place measures to counter the spreading of illegal goods, services or content online.
Telegram added that Durov "has nothing to hide and travels frequently in Europe," following reports that he has been avoiding landing at European airports to evade arrest. The app said it looks forward to a "prompt" resolution of the situation.
