Telegram Surges in App Charts After CEO Arrest; Expert Discusses Impact on Other Messaging Apps

Chris Beer, a consumer and tech analyst at GWI, notes that the accusations against Telegram CEO Pavel Durov aren’t unique to the app and could apply to other social media platforms. For the unversed, Durov was arrested recently at Le Bourget Airport near Paris. The investigation against him focuses on the lack of moderators on Telegram, with law enforcement concerned that this has allowed criminal activity to thrive unchecked on the platform.

In an interview with CNBC, Beer explained that while Telegram offers freedom and security for users to communicate, whether for protesting authoritarian regimes or connecting with contacts, this same freedom can also enable illegal or unethical activities. According to Beer, this challenge isn’t exclusive to Telegram but is common across many social and messaging apps, where moderating user interactions is particularly difficult.

When asked about regulatory responses in the EU, especially in light of the Digital Services Act, Beer said that it’s still unclear how far authorities will go. He pointed out that the extent of any regulatory actions remains uncertain and may depend on behind-the-scenes negotiations and exchanges.

Beer explained that Europe’s approach reflects a different sentiment compared to the US. While the US emphasizes free speech, European consumers often want both freedom of expression and protection from harmful content. 

He said, “What’s interesting is to see how demand is changing in relation to this. I think for a lot of people, they’ve simply become aware of Telegram and might not have heard of it before. We’ve seen that over the past seven days, with Telegram sneaking its way up the app charts. 

Beer Continued, “More people are perhaps downloading it out of curiosity. So there is a sense that people, all things being equal, may become more aware of the platform, more likely to download it, and more likely to use it simply because they know what it is now.”