Visit our website:
http://www.france24.com
Like us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/FRANCE24.English
Follow us on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/France24_en
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00The significance of France's detention and investigation of Pavel Durov, downplayed by
00:06Moscow.
00:07Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia is ready to assist the Telegram founder to
00:13the extent of its capabilities, and that as a French citizen, Durov has everything he
00:18needed to organise his legal defence, but asserted the case should not turn into political
00:24persecution.
00:26The main thing is that what's happening in France does not turn into political persecution.
00:31We know that the President of France has denied any connection with politics, but on the other
00:36hand certain accusations are being made.
00:39We will see what happens next.
00:42Durov may face additional scrutiny, this time coming from the EU.
00:47The European Commission is investigating whether Telegram has the minimum number of users that
00:52would require it to comply with more stringent rules.
00:56Since February, a new law, known as the Digital Services Act, means platforms in the EU with
01:01at least 45 million monthly users have greater obligations.
01:06Telegram escaped the extra rules since it said it had 41 million users in February,
01:11but the Commission has admitted to having doubts over those claims.
01:15Under the DSA, platforms must update their figures every six months, and when the time
01:20came for an update in August, Telegram refused to give exact figures, insisting on its website
01:26that it had significantly fewer than 45 million average monthly active recipients in the EU.
01:33What we are asking for is a precise figure.
01:36Telegram merely says they are sharply below the threshold.
01:40Violations under the DSA can be met with sanctions, mainly in the form of fines.
01:46The EU has stressed there is no connection with Durov's case in France.