Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of Telegram, was arrested in France on charges of allegedly allowing illegal activities on the messaging app.
The charges include facilitating drug trafficking, money laundering, and the distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Despite the serious nature of these allegations, the arrest has seemingly had a counterintuitive effect on Telegram’s popularity.
Following Durov’s arrest, Telegram saw a significant increase in downloads. On Monday at 3 a.m. EST, the app climbed to the No. 2 position in the Social Networking category on the U.S. App Store before eventually settling at No. 3.
This surge in downloads wasn’t immediate, taking place after the news of Durov’s arrest spread over the weekend.
Additionally, the app saw its highest overall U.S. ranking since January 2023, moving from No. 18 to No. 8 on the App Store, excluding games.
In France, where Durov was detained, Telegram became the top app in the Social Networking category on the App Store and reached the No. 3 spot overall. The increase in downloads and rankings has been confirmed by market intelligence firms, including Appfigures and Sensor Tower.
French President Emmanuel Macron responded to the incident, emphasizing that Durov’s arrest was the result of an ongoing judicial investigation, not a political maneuver.
Macron reassured the public of France’s commitment to freedom of expression and communication, underlining that the arrest should not be seen as a threat to these principles.
He tweeted on Monday:
“I have seen false information regarding France following the arrest of Pavel Durov.
“France is deeply committed to freedom of expression and communication, to innovation, and to the spirit of entrepreneurship. It will remain so.
“In a state governed by the rule of law, freedoms are upheld within a legal framework, both on social media and in real life, to protect citizens and respect their fundamental rights.
“It is up to the judiciary, in full independence, to enforce the law.
“The arrest of the president of Telegram on French soil took place as part of an ongoing judicial investigation. It is in no way a political decision. It is up to the judges to rule on the matter.”
