Pavel Durov's lawyer says the case against Telegram boss is 'absurd'

FILE PHOTO: A participant of a one-person picket demonstrates a placard to bring attention to the arrest of Pavel Durov, founder and CEO of the Telegram messaging app, near the French embassy in Moscow, Russia August 25, 2024. A slogan on the placard reads: "Freedom for Pavel Durov". REUTERS/Yulia Morozova/File Photo

PARIS (Reuters) -Telegram boss Pavel Durov's lawyer said on Thursday it was "absurd" to suggest he should be held responsible for any crimes committed on the app, amid growing frictions between governments and tech titans over content on their platforms.

France's arrest of Durov - a first for a CEO of a major messaging platform - has sent a warning to social media bosses unwilling to tackle alleged illegality on their apps. It has also plunged French-Russia relations to fresh lows, according to Moscow, where some pro-Kremlin figures have accused Washington of being behind the detention of Russian-born Durov.