French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday (August 26) denied any "political" link to the arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov.

Durov was arrested by the French authorities on Saturday (August 24) allegedly over failing to curb the spread of illegal content and activities on Telegram, a platform with over 900 million users.

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, Macron said that he was addressing "false information" concerning the case.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:145,&quot;w&quot;:783,&quot;h&quot;:33,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1985}" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/honeytrap-mossad-agent-who-is-juli-vavilova-mystery-woman-rumoured-to-be-behind-telegram-ceo-pavel-durov-753464">Honeytrap? Mossad agent? Who is Juli Vavilova, mystery woman rumoured to be behind Telegram CEO Pavel Durov</a>

<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:197,&quot;w&quot;:813,&quot;h&quot;:25,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2037}">So why was Durov arrested?</h2>

President Macron said that&nbsp;"the arrest of Telegram CEO&nbsp;on French soil took place as part of an ongoing judicial investigation."&nbsp;

"It is in no way a political decision. It is up to the judges to rule on the matter," he added.

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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,…
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Pavel Durov, a Russian-born billionaire with dual French-Russian citizenship, was arrested on Saturday after flying into Le Bourget airport outside Paris.&nbsp;The 39-year-old billionaire, as per reports, was flying from Azerbaijan.

Also read |&nbsp;<a bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:88,&quot;y&quot;:371,&quot;w&quot;:616,&quot;h&quot;:16,&quot;abs_x&quot;:121,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2211}" href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/telegram-gets-probed-by-indian-govt-for-gambling-and-extortion-may-face-ban-report-753392">Telegram gets probed by Indian govt for gambling and extortion, may face ban: Report</a>

He has reportedly been arrested as part of a preliminary investigation into a number of alleged offences, including fraud, drug trafficking, cyberbullying, organised crime and promotion of terrorism on his platform.&nbsp;

France's OFMIN, a body tasked with preventing violence against minors, as per the news agency AFP, had issued an arrest warrant for Durov.

On Sunday (August 25), an investigating magistrate extended Durov's detention. In France, as per the law, the initial detention for questioning can last up to 96 hours and when this&nbsp;period ends, the magistrate can either free Durov or press charges and remand him in custody.

<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:571,&quot;w&quot;:813,&quot;h&quot;:25,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2411}">Telegram denies charges, Kremlin has no information about arrest</h2>

The Kremlin said on Monday (August 26) that it had received no information from France on why it was holding Pavel Durov.

"We do not know concretely what Durov is accused of. We have not heard any official declaration on this subject," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

"Before saying anything, we need to wait for the situation to become clearer… Without that, it would be inappropriate to comment," he added.

Durov's company, Telegram, said that "Durov has nothing to hide and travels frequently in Europe."

"Telegram abides by EU laws, including the Digital Services Act -- its moderation is within industry standards," it added.

"It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform."

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday (August 26) denied any "political" link to the arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov. Durov was arrested by the French authorities on Saturday (August 24) allegedly over failing to curb the spread of illegal content and activities on Telegram, a platform with over 900 million users.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday (August 26) denied any "political" link to the arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov. Durov was arrested by the French authorities on Saturday (August 24) allegedly over failing to curb the spread of illegal content and activities on Telegram, a platform with over 900 million users. Taking to X, formerly Twitter, Macron said that he was addressing "false information" concerning the case. Also read | Honeytrap? Mossad agent? Who is Juli Vavilova, mystery woman rumoured to be behind Telegram CEO Pavel Durov So why was Durov arrested? President Macron said that "the arrest of Telegram CEO 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," he added. 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,… — Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) August 26, 2024 × Pavel Durov, a Russian-born billionaire with dual French-Russian citizenship, was arrested on Saturday after flying into Le Bourget airport outside Paris. The 39-year-old billionaire, as per reports, was flying from Azerbaijan. Also read | Telegram gets probed by Indian govt for gambling and extortion, may face ban: Report He has reportedly been arrested as part of a preliminary investigation into a number of alleged offences, including fraud, drug trafficking, cyberbullying, organised crime and promotion of terrorism on his platform. France's OFMIN, a body tasked with preventing violence against minors, as per the news agency AFP, had issued an arrest warrant for Durov. On Sunday (August 25), an investigating magistrate extended Durov's detention. In France, as per the law, the initial detention for questioning can last up to 96 hours and when this period ends, the magistrate can either free Durov or press charges and remand him in custody. Telegram denies charges, Kremlin has no information about arrest The Kremlin said on Monday (August 26) that it had received no information from France on why it was holding Pavel Durov. "We do not know concretely what Durov is accused of. We have not heard any official declaration on this subject," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. "Before saying anything, we need to wait for the situation to become clearer… Without that, it would be inappropriate to comment," he added. Durov's company, Telegram, said that "Durov has nothing to hide and travels frequently in Europe." "Telegram abides by EU laws, including the Digital Services Act -- its moderation is within industry standards," it added. "It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform." (With inputs from agencies)

No 'political' motive behind Telegram CEO Pavel Durov's arrest, says French President Macron

The founder and CEO of Telegram Pavel Durov has reportedly been arrested. Molly Gambhir tells you more about the man who was once dubbed the 'Russian Zuckerberg.'

Gravitas: Why has the Telegram founder and CEO been arrested?

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov, who was arrested on Saturday (August 24) upon landing in France on his private jet, was accompanied by a mystery woman, as per reports. The woman has been identified as Juli Vavilova, a 24-year-old "crypto coach" who is believed to be behind his arrest.

Here's everything you need to know about mystery woman Juli Vavilova:

<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:116,&quot;w&quot;:813,&quot;h&quot;:25,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1956}">Who is Juli Vavilova?&nbsp;</h2>

Juli Vavilova is a crypto coach and streamer based in Dubai. Active on social media platforms, including Instagram, she describes herself as a gamer interested in "Gaming, crypto, languages, and mindset".

The 24-year-old is believed to be Durov's girlfriend and, as per reports, she might be behind the Telegram CEO's arrest.

Also read |&nbsp;<a bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:88,&quot;y&quot;:241,&quot;w&quot;:616,&quot;h&quot;:16,&quot;abs_x&quot;:121,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2081}" href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/telegram-gets-probed-by-indian-govt-for-gambling-and-extortion-may-face-ban-report-753392">Telegram gets probed by Indian govt for gambling and extortion, may face ban: Report</a>

<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:277,&quot;w&quot;:813,&quot;h&quot;:25,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2117}">Is she a Mossad agent?</h2>

Speculations on social media have been plenty since Durov's arrest.&nbsp;One wild theory suggests that Vavilova is a Mossad agent who was planted as a honey trap to aid the capture of Pavel Durov.&nbsp;

Other theories propose that she herself was under Mossad surveillance and her frequent posts on social media that showed her in the same locations as Durov led to his arrest. She has posted photos from many of the places Durov was at — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Azerbaijan.&nbsp;

<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:440,&quot;w&quot;:813,&quot;h&quot;:25,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2280}">Why was Pavel Durov arrested?</h2>

Pavel Durov, a Russian-born billionaire with dual French-Russian citizenship, was arrested on Saturday after flying into Le Bourget airport outside Paris.

The 39-year-old billionaire, as per reports, was flying from Azerbaijan.

Also read |&nbsp;<a bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:88,&quot;y&quot;:565,&quot;w&quot;:616,&quot;h&quot;:16,&quot;abs_x&quot;:121,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2405}" href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/telegram-gets-probed-by-indian-govt-for-gambling-and-extortion-may-face-ban-report-753392">Telegram gets probed by Indian govt for gambling and extortion, may face ban: Report</a>

He has been arrested for failing to take action to curb the criminal use of his platform. France's OFMIN, a body tasked with preventing violence against minors, as per the news agency AFP, had issued an arrest warrant for Durov.

The Kremlin on Monday (August 26) said it had received no information from France on why it was holding Pavel Durov.

"We do not know concretely what Durov is accused of. We have not heard any official declaration on this subject," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

"Before saying anything, we need to wait for the situation to become clearer… Without that, it would be inappropriate to comment," he added.

(With inputs from agencies)

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov, who was arrested on Saturday (August 24) upon landing in France on his private jet, was accompanied by a mystery woman, as per reports.

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov, who was arrested on Saturday (August 24) upon landing in France on his private jet, was accompanied by a mystery woman, as per reports. The woman has been identified as Juli Vavilova, a 24-year-old "crypto coach" who is believed to be behind his arrest. Here's everything you need to know about mystery woman Juli Vavilova: Who is Juli Vavilova? Juli Vavilova is a crypto coach and streamer based in Dubai. Active on social media platforms, including Instagram, she describes herself as a gamer interested in "Gaming, crypto, languages, and mindset". The 24-year-old is believed to be Durov's girlfriend and, as per reports, she might be behind the Telegram CEO's arrest. Also read | Telegram gets probed by Indian govt for gambling and extortion, may face ban: Report Is she a Mossad agent? Speculations on social media have been plenty since Durov's arrest. One wild theory suggests that Vavilova is a Mossad agent who was planted as a honey trap to aid the capture of Pavel Durov. Other theories propose that she herself was under Mossad surveillance and her frequent posts on social media that showed her in the same locations as Durov led to his arrest. She has posted photos from many of the places Durov was at — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Azerbaijan. Why was Pavel Durov arrested? Pavel Durov, a Russian-born billionaire with dual French-Russian citizenship, was arrested on Saturday after flying into Le Bourget airport outside Paris. The 39-year-old billionaire, as per reports, was flying from Azerbaijan. Also read | Telegram gets probed by Indian govt for gambling and extortion, may face ban: Report He has been arrested for failing to take action to curb the criminal use of his platform. France's OFMIN, a body tasked with preventing violence against minors, as per the news agency AFP, had issued an arrest warrant for Durov. The Kremlin on Monday (August 26) said it had received no information from France on why it was holding Pavel Durov. "We do not know concretely what Durov is accused of. We have not heard any official declaration on this subject," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. "Before saying anything, we need to wait for the situation to become clearer… Without that, it would be inappropriate to comment," he added. (With inputs from agencies)

Honeytrap? Mossad agent? Who is Juli Vavilova, mystery woman rumoured to be behind Telegram CEO’s arrest

Pavel Durov, the CEO and founder of popular messaging app Telegram, was arrested by French authorities on Saturday evening (Aug 24) at Le Bourget airport near Paris. Durov, who was travelling from Azerbaijan in a private jet, was detained at around 20:00&nbsp;(18:00 GMT), according to AFP reports.

France’s OFMIN, an agency focussed on preventing violence against minors, issued an arrest warrant for Pavel Durov, according to AFP. The agency is investigating the failure of Telegram to curb fraud, drug trafficking, cyberbullying, organised crime, and promotion of terrorism&nbsp;on the messaging app.

Here’s what you need to know about its founder:&nbsp;

<h2>Who Is Pavel Durov?</h2>

Pavel Durov, 39, is the founder and CEO of Telegram, a messaging app that offers a free alternative to platforms like WhatsApp&nbsp;and WeChat.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hundreds-of-cops-in-philippines-raid-religious-compound-in-search-of-preacher-accused-of-sexual-abuse-753072">Hundreds of cops in Philippines raid religious compound in search of preacher accused of sexual abuse</a>

With a net worth, estimated by Forbes, at $15.5 billion, Durov left Russia in 2014. His departure followed his refusal to comply with a Russian court order demanding access to Telegram’s encrypted messages. This led to Russia blocking the app in 2018, though the ban had little effect on its availability and use. The move sparked widespread protests in Moscow and drew criticism from NGOs.

In August 2021, Durov became a French citizen. He moved himself and Telegram to Dubai in 2017. Reports indicate that he has also acquired citizenship in the United Arab Emirates and St. Kitts and Nevis, a Caribbean nation.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/main-suspect-arrested-by-authorities-in-germany-knife-attack-753043">Suspect who killed 3 in Germany knife attack arrested by authorities</a>

In an April interview with Tucker Carlson, Durov emphasised his preference for freedom over following order, revealing that his search for a suitable base for his company took him through cities like Berlin, London, Singapore, and San Francisco.

During the interview, Durov also mentioned that, aside from money and Bitcoin, he does not own significant assets like real estate, jets, or yachts, highlighting his commitment to personal freedom.

<h2>Fathered over 100 children through sperm donation</h2>

Pavel Durov has also made headlines recently by revealing on Telegram that he has fathered over 100 children across 12 countries through sperm donation. “I just discovered I have more than 100 biological kids. How could this happen when I’ve never been married and prefer to live alone?” Durov wrote.

He explained that 15 years ago, a close friend struggling with infertility asked him to donate sperm.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Pavel Durov, the CEO and founder of popular messaging app Telegram, was arrested by French authorities on Saturday evening (Aug 24) at Le Bourget airport near Paris.

Pavel Durov, the CEO and founder of popular messaging app Telegram, was arrested by French authorities on Saturday evening (Aug 24) at Le Bourget airport near Paris. Durov, who was travelling from Azerbaijan in a private jet, was detained at around 20:00 (18:00 GMT), according to AFP reports. France’s OFMIN, an agency focussed on preventing violence against minors, issued an arrest warrant for Pavel Durov, according to AFP. The agency is investigating the failure of Telegram to curb fraud, drug trafficking, cyberbullying, organised crime, and promotion of terrorism on the messaging app. Here’s what you need to know about its founder: Who Is Pavel Durov? Pavel Durov, 39, is the founder and CEO of Telegram, a messaging app that offers a free alternative to platforms like WhatsApp and WeChat. Also read | Hundreds of cops in Philippines raid religious compound in search of preacher accused of sexual abuse With a net worth, estimated by Forbes, at $15.5 billion, Durov left Russia in 2014. His departure followed his refusal to comply with a Russian court order demanding access to Telegram’s encrypted messages. This led to Russia blocking the app in 2018, though the ban had little effect on its availability and use. The move sparked widespread protests in Moscow and drew criticism from NGOs. In August 2021, Durov became a French citizen. He moved himself and Telegram to Dubai in 2017. Reports indicate that he has also acquired citizenship in the United Arab Emirates and St. Kitts and Nevis, a Caribbean nation. Also read | Suspect who killed 3 in Germany knife attack arrested by authorities In an April interview with Tucker Carlson, Durov emphasised his preference for freedom over following order, revealing that his search for a suitable base for his company took him through cities like Berlin, London, Singapore, and San Francisco. During the interview, Durov also mentioned that, aside from money and Bitcoin, he does not own significant assets like real estate, jets, or yachts, highlighting his commitment to personal freedom. Fathered over 100 children through sperm donation Pavel Durov has also made headlines recently by revealing on Telegram that he has fathered over 100 children across 12 countries through sperm donation. “I just discovered I have more than 100 biological kids. How could this happen when I’ve never been married and prefer to live alone?” Durov wrote. He explained that 15 years ago, a close friend struggling with infertility asked him to donate sperm. (With inputs from agencies)

Who is Pavel Durov? Facts about Telegram CEO arrested in France who once claimed to have fathered  100 kids

Pavel Durov, founder and CEO of messaging app Telegram, was arrested on Saturday evening while leaving his private jet at France’s Bourget airport. Watch in for more details!

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov arrested in France

Telegram chief executive Pavel Durov was arrested by the French police at the Le Bourget airport near Paris for alleged offences related to his popular messaging app, the news agency AFP reported on Sunday (Aug 25) citing sources.

Telegram chief executive Pavel Durov was arrested by the French police at the Le Bourget airport near Paris for alleged offences related to his popular messaging app, the news agency AFP reported on Sunday (Aug 25) citing sources. Durov was travelling aboard his private jet and was arrested as the police investigation alleges that a lack of moderators on Telegram allows criminal activity, like fraud, drug trafficking, cyberbullying, and the promotion of terrorism, to go on undeterred on the messaging app. Durov, 39, was arrested on Saturday evening and is expected to appear in court later on Sunday. He had arrived in France from Azerbaijan, one of the sources told AFP. Durov faces possible indictment, according to French media. The other source said that France's OFMIN, an office tasked with preventing violence against minors, issued an arrest warrant for Durov in a preliminary investigation into alleged offences including fraud, drug trafficking, cyberbullying, and promotion of terrorism. Durov is accused of failing to take action to curb the criminal use of his platform. Also read: Be more attentive: Kremlin's note of caution to Telegram owner following Moscow terror attack The reactions Reacting to Durov's arrest, X owner Elon Musk said, "It's 2030 in Europe and you’re being executed for liking a meme." A report by the news agency Reuters said that several Russian bloggers called for protests at French embassies throughout the world at noon on Sunday. Russia's representative to international organisations in Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov, and several other Russian politicians was quick on Sunday to accuse France of acting as a dictatorship - the same criticism that Moscow faced when putting demands on Durov in 2014 and trying to ban Telegram in 2018. The Russian foreign ministry said its embassy in Paris was clarifying the situation around Durov and called on Western non-governmental organisations to demand his release. Telegram and the Ukraine war Russian-born Durov founded Telegram with his brother in 2013. He left Russia in 2014 after refusing to comply with government demands to shut down opposition communities on his VKontakte social media platform, which he sold. After the Ukraine war began in late February 2022, Telegram has become the main source of unfiltered - and sometimes graphic and misleading - content from both sides about the war and the politics surrounding it. (With inputs from agencies)

Telegram chief executive Pavel Durov arrested in France, faces possible indictment

Telegram's founder and Chief Executive Officer Pavel Durov made a shocking revelation as he claimed he has more than "100 biological kids".

Taking to the messaging application, the CEO shared about his biological kids and the plan ahead with his 5.7 million subscribers.&nbsp;

"I was just told that I have over 100 biological kids. How is this possible for a guy who has never been married and prefers to live alone?" Durov said.

He explained that nearly 15 years ago, a friend came to him with a "weird request".&nbsp;

"He said that he and his wife couldn't have kids due to a fertility issue and asked me to donate sperm at a clinic for them to have a baby. I laughed my ass off before realizing he was dead serious," the Telegram founder said.

He said that the head of the clinic told him that "high-quality donor material" was in short supply. The doctor further said that it was Durov's "civic duty to donate more sperm to anonymously help more couples."

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/netflix-co-founder-reed-hastings-7mn-donation-to-kamala-harris-triggers-boycott-calls-744525">Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings' $7 million donation to Kamala Harris' prez campaign triggers boycott calls</a>

"This sounded crazy enough to get me to sign up for sperm donation. Fast forward to 2024, my past donating activity has helped over a hundred couples in 12 countries to have kids. Moreover, many years after I stopped being a donor, at least one IVF clinic still has my frozen sperm available for anonymous use by families who want to have kids," he said.&nbsp;

<h2>Entrepreneur Pavel Durov speaks about the plan ahead</h2>

The 39-year-old entrepreneur said that he has now made plans to open-source his DNA which will help his biological children find each other.&nbsp;

Speaking about the importance of healthy sperm, Durov said that he is proud that he did his duty.&nbsp;

"Of course, there are risks, but I don't regret having been a donor. The shortage of healthy sperm has become an increasingly serious issue worldwide, and I'm proud that I did my part to help alleviate it. I also want to help destigmatize the whole notion of sperm donation and incentivize more healthy men to do it, so that families struggling to have kids can enjoy more options. Defy convention - redefine the norm," the CEO wrote on Telegram.

<img alt="p1" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="cba5476f-5883-4e5e-8157-b3c36ad2e6d2" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Pavel%20Durov.png" />

The Telegram CEO's post has received more than 1.8 million views since it was shared. A screengrab of the message was also shared on X where users gave different reactions.&nbsp;

Watch: Ola CEO Bhavish Aggarwal calls for 70-hour work week, doctors warn of heart risk

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-ola-ceo-bhavish-aggarwal-calls-for-70-hour-work-week-doctors-warn-of-heart-risk-741163/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"Tech CEOs' new hubristic hobby seems to be competing on number of offsprings they can claim - without ever loving them or being in their lives," a user said.

"The funniest part is that, there are still some of his sperm donation left and preserved in one of the facilities," another added.

"This is what happens when you "donate" your sperm to IVF clinics. I don't see how this can be spun as a win," a third user said.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Telegram's founder and Chief Executive Officer Pavel Durov made a shocking revelation as he claimed he has more than "100 biological kids". Taking to the messaging application, the CEO shared about his biological kids and the plan ahead with his 5.

Telegram's founder and Chief Executive Officer Pavel Durov made a shocking revelation as he claimed he has more than "100 biological kids". Taking to the messaging application, the CEO shared about his biological kids and the plan ahead with his 5.7 million subscribers. "I was just told that I have over 100 biological kids. How is this possible for a guy who has never been married and prefers to live alone?" Durov said. He explained that nearly 15 years ago, a friend came to him with a "weird request". "He said that he and his wife couldn't have kids due to a fertility issue and asked me to donate sperm at a clinic for them to have a baby. I laughed my ass off before realizing he was dead serious," the Telegram founder said. He said that the head of the clinic told him that "high-quality donor material" was in short supply. The doctor further said that it was Durov's "civic duty to donate more sperm to anonymously help more couples." Also Read: Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings' $7 million donation to Kamala Harris' prez campaign triggers boycott calls "This sounded crazy enough to get me to sign up for sperm donation. Fast forward to 2024, my past donating activity has helped over a hundred couples in 12 countries to have kids. Moreover, many years after I stopped being a donor, at least one IVF clinic still has my frozen sperm available for anonymous use by families who want to have kids," he said. Entrepreneur Pavel Durov speaks about the plan ahead The 39-year-old entrepreneur said that he has now made plans to open-source his DNA which will help his biological children find each other. Speaking about the importance of healthy sperm, Durov said that he is proud that he did his duty. "Of course, there are risks, but I don't regret having been a donor. The shortage of healthy sperm has become an increasingly serious issue worldwide, and I'm proud that I did my part to help alleviate it. I also want to help destigmatize the whole notion of sperm donation and incentivize more healthy men to do it, so that families struggling to have kids can enjoy more options. Defy convention - redefine the norm," the CEO wrote on Telegram. The Telegram CEO's post has received more than 1.8 million views since it was shared. A screengrab of the message was also shared on X where users gave different reactions. Watch: Ola CEO Bhavish Aggarwal calls for 70-hour work week, doctors warn of heart risk "Tech CEOs' new hubristic hobby seems to be competing on number of offsprings they can claim - without ever loving them or being in their lives," a user said. "The funniest part is that, there are still some of his sperm donation left and preserved in one of the facilities," another added. "This is what happens when you "donate" your sperm to IVF clinics. I don't see how this can be spun as a win," a third user said. (With inputs from agencies)

THIS company's CEO has more than '100 biological kids'. Here's how

Telegram, a popular encrypted messaging app, will allow users to cloak their telephone numbers to safeguard <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/million-march-huge-hong-kong-protest-against-china-extradition-law-225733">Hong Kong protesters against </a>monitoring by authorities, according to a person with direct knowledge of the effort.

The update to Telegram, planned for release over the next few days, will allow protesters to prevent mainland Chinese and Hong Kong authorities from discovering their identities in the app's large group chats.

Hong Kong's Security Bureau told Reuters it has "been acting responsibly to deal with the current difficult time with a view to restoring the public order".&nbsp;

It declined to comment about whether it had tried to identify protesters by using the Telegram app.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-protesters-violated-one-country-two-systems-bottom-line-china-foreign-ministry-237656">China’s Foreign Ministry</a>, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) and the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside of business hours.

Thousands of Hong Kong protesters take their cues from more than 100 groups on Telegram, according to protest organisers and supporters.

Protesters use encrypted apps like Telegram to mobilize swiftly through multiple group chats, with less risk of police infiltration, an in-depth report published by Reuters earlier this month said.

The groups are used to post everything from news on upcoming protests to tips on dousing tear gas canisters fired by the police to the identities of suspected undercover police and the access codes to buildings in Hong Kong where protesters can hide.

Some protesters expressed concern that authorities could use the movement's reliance on Telegram to monitor and arrest organisers.&nbsp;

Telegram chat groups used to organise public protests are often accessible to anyone and participants use pseudonyms.

Telegram allows users to search for other users by uploading phone numbers.&nbsp;

This function allows a new user to quickly learn whether those in a phone's contact book are already using the app, the group said.

Some protesters say they believe Chinese or Hong Kong security officials have exploited the function by uploading large quantities of phone numbers.&nbsp;

Reuters was unable to determine if this has occurred.

The app automatically matches phone numbers with the user names in the group. Authorities then only need to request the owners of the phone numbers from the local telecom service to learn the users' true identities.

Telegram has detected evidence that Hong Kong or mainland Chinese authorities may have uploaded numbers to identify protesters, said the person with direct knowledge of the situation.&nbsp;

But it is unclear whether authorities have successfully used this tactic to locate protesters.

Telegram did not respond to a request for comment.

A group of Hong Kong engineers who posted their findings on an online forum earlier this month also said that a feature in Telegram's design may have allowed mainland Chinese orHong Kong authorities to learn the real identities of users.

The fix Telegram is working on would allow users to disable matching by phone number.

&nbsp;That option represents a balance between making it easy for users to find their contacts and the privacy needs of those who rely on the app for protection against state security agents, the source said.

But wide adoption of the optional security setting would make the app far harder to use for the vast majority of its more than 200 million consumers, who rely on uploading phone contacts to identify friends and family members on the app, the source said.

In June, Telegram chief executive Pavel Durov said the messaging service experienced a “state actor-sized” cyber attack and pointed to China as its likely country of origin.

He provided no further details but said the attack coincided with protests in Hong Kong. The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) did not respond to a faxed request for comment at the time.

The move by Telegram comes as Hong Kong police arrested a number of prominent activists and three lawmakers on Friday. Nearly 900 people have been arrested since the demonstrations began three months ago.

Telegram, a popular encrypted messaging app, will allow users to cloak their telephone numbers to safeguard Hong Kong protesters against monitoring by authorities, according to a person with direct knowledge of the effort.

Telegram, a popular encrypted messaging app, will allow users to cloak their telephone numbers to safeguard Hong Kong protesters against monitoring by authorities, according to a person with direct knowledge of the effort. The update to Telegram, planned for release over the next few days, will allow protesters to prevent mainland Chinese and Hong Kong authorities from discovering their identities in the app's large group chats. Hong Kong's Security Bureau told Reuters it has "been acting responsibly to deal with the current difficult time with a view to restoring the public order". It declined to comment about whether it had tried to identify protesters by using the Telegram app. China’s Foreign Ministry, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) and the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside of business hours. Thousands of Hong Kong protesters take their cues from more than 100 groups on Telegram, according to protest organisers and supporters. Protesters use encrypted apps like Telegram to mobilize swiftly through multiple group chats, with less risk of police infiltration, an in-depth report published by Reuters earlier this month said. The groups are used to post everything from news on upcoming protests to tips on dousing tear gas canisters fired by the police to the identities of suspected undercover police and the access codes to buildings in Hong Kong where protesters can hide. Some protesters expressed concern that authorities could use the movement's reliance on Telegram to monitor and arrest organisers. Telegram chat groups used to organise public protests are often accessible to anyone and participants use pseudonyms. Telegram allows users to search for other users by uploading phone numbers. This function allows a new user to quickly learn whether those in a phone's contact book are already using the app, the group said. Some protesters say they believe Chinese or Hong Kong security officials have exploited the function by uploading large quantities of phone numbers. Reuters was unable to determine if this has occurred. The app automatically matches phone numbers with the user names in the group. Authorities then only need to request the owners of the phone numbers from the local telecom service to learn the users' true identities. Telegram has detected evidence that Hong Kong or mainland Chinese authorities may have uploaded numbers to identify protesters, said the person with direct knowledge of the situation. But it is unclear whether authorities have successfully used this tactic to locate protesters. Telegram did not respond to a request for comment. A group of Hong Kong engineers who posted their findings on an online forum earlier this month also said that a feature in Telegram's design may have allowed mainland Chinese orHong Kong authorities to learn the real identities of users. The fix Telegram is working on would allow users to disable matching by phone number. That option represents a balance between making it easy for users to find their contacts and the privacy needs of those who rely on the app for protection against state security agents, the source said. But wide adoption of the optional security setting would make the app far harder to use for the vast majority of its more than 200 million consumers, who rely on uploading phone contacts to identify friends and family members on the app, the source said. In June, Telegram chief executive Pavel Durov said the messaging service experienced a “state actor-sized” cyber attack and pointed to China as its likely country of origin. He provided no further details but said the attack coincided with protests in Hong Kong. The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) did not respond to a faxed request for comment at the time. The move by Telegram comes as Hong Kong police arrested a number of prominent activists and three lawmakers on Friday. Nearly 900 people have been arrested since the demonstrations began three months ago.

Messaging app Telegram moves to protect the identity of Hong Kong protester

The chief executive of Telegram, a popular encrypted messaging app, said on Wednesday the messaging service experienced a "state actor-sized" cyber attack and pointed to China as its likely country of origin.

The service was hit by a "powerful DDoS attack" originating from IP addresses mostly inside China, Pavel Durov, Telegram's CEO, said in a tweet.

The attack coincided with protests in Hong Kong, he added.

Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks involve sending large numbers of requests in a targeted attack, causing partial or full service interruptions.

Hundreds of thousands of protesters have marched in Hong Kong this week in opposition to a controversial law that would allow people in the city to be extradited to China.

Chinese state media have sharply condemned the protests, which they say is motivated by outside forces and undermines social stability in Hong Kong.

The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), which oversees the country's cyber policy, did not respond immediately to a faxed request for comment.

Meanwhile, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said he was not aware of the situation when asked about Durov's accusation during a daily briefing on Thursday.

Telegram and other encrypted messaging apps are popular tools for protesters globally, who use them to coordinate without tipping off authorities.

Durov added that historical attacks of the same size had coincided with protests in Hong Kong, adding, "This case was not an exception."

Other apps have faced blocks in China as well during political movements in Hong Kong. In 2014, at the height of the city's Umbrella Movement, Beijing cut access to photo-sharing app Instagram inside the mainland.

Chinese officials have previously denied allegations of cyber attacks, pointing out that China is a frequently a victim of outside attacks.

The chief executive of Telegram, a popular encrypted messaging app, said on Wednesday the messaging service experienced a "state actor-sized" cyber attack and pointed to China as its likely country of origin.

The chief executive of Telegram, a popular encrypted messaging app, said on Wednesday the messaging service experienced a "state actor-sized" cyber attack and pointed to China as its likely country of origin. The service was hit by a "powerful DDoS attack" originating from IP addresses mostly inside China, Pavel Durov, Telegram's CEO, said in a tweet. The attack coincided with protests in Hong Kong, he added. Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks involve sending large numbers of requests in a targeted attack, causing partial or full service interruptions. Hundreds of thousands of protesters have marched in Hong Kong this week in opposition to a controversial law that would allow people in the city to be extradited to China. Chinese state media have sharply condemned the protests, which they say is motivated by outside forces and undermines social stability in Hong Kong. The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), which oversees the country's cyber policy, did not respond immediately to a faxed request for comment. Meanwhile, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said he was not aware of the situation when asked about Durov's accusation during a daily briefing on Thursday. Telegram and other encrypted messaging apps are popular tools for protesters globally, who use them to coordinate without tipping off authorities. Durov added that historical attacks of the same size had coincided with protests in Hong Kong, adding, "This case was not an exception." Other apps have faced blocks in China as well during political movements in Hong Kong. In 2014, at the height of the city's Umbrella Movement, Beijing cut access to photo-sharing app Instagram inside the mainland. Chinese officials have previously denied allegations of cyber attacks, pointing out that China is a frequently a victim of outside attacks.

Messaging service Telegram CEO points to China as likely origin of cyber attack

Popular dating app Tinder is now required to share users' data with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/two-people-missing-after-blasts-at-russian-military-plant-22-injured-223432">Russian security services</a> after being placed on an official register, the country's telecoms watchdog said Monday.

Tinder has over 50 million users swiping right to select dating profiles and find a match. It is part of the US-based Match Group of social apps whose parent firm is InterActiveCorp.&nbsp;

The Roskomnadzor watchdog said that Tinder has been added to its register "after it presented the necessary information".

Roskomnadzor -- together with Russia's law enforcement authorities and security agencies including the feared FSB, the successor to the KGB -- keeps a register of so-called "organisers of information distribution".&nbsp;

The register lists 175 sites and services including Russia's biggest bank Sberbank and the country's popular social media network VK.

By law, the companies on the register must store user data in Russia for six months -- including the content of messages exchanged -- and hand over any of the information to law enforcement authorities if requested to do so.

If the company refuses to comply, the authorities can act to block sites, as was the case last year with the embattled Telegram messaging app, created by maverick Russian Internet guru Pavel Durov.

In a statement, a Tinder spokesperson said the company had "received a request to register with the Russian authorities, and, as of now, we have registered to be compliant".

"However, this registration in no way shares any user or personal data with any Russian regulatory bodies and we have not handed over any data to their government," the spokesperson added.

Some Russian internet users made fun of the move, warning that FSB officers will now have access to any steamy correspondence or unrequited pickup attempts.

Popular dating app Tinder is now required to share users' data with Russian security services after being placed on an official register, the country's telecoms watchdog said Monday.

Popular dating app Tinder is now required to share users' data with Russian security services after being placed on an official register, the country's telecoms watchdog said Monday. Tinder has over 50 million users swiping right to select dating profiles and find a match. It is part of the US-based Match Group of social apps whose parent firm is InterActiveCorp. The Roskomnadzor watchdog said that Tinder has been added to its register "after it presented the necessary information". Roskomnadzor -- together with Russia's law enforcement authorities and security agencies including the feared FSB, the successor to the KGB -- keeps a register of so-called "organisers of information distribution". The register lists 175 sites and services including Russia's biggest bank Sberbank and the country's popular social media network VK. By law, the companies on the register must store user data in Russia for six months -- including the content of messages exchanged -- and hand over any of the information to law enforcement authorities if requested to do so. If the company refuses to comply, the authorities can act to block sites, as was the case last year with the embattled Telegram messaging app, created by maverick Russian Internet guru Pavel Durov. In a statement, a Tinder spokesperson said the company had "received a request to register with the Russian authorities, and, as of now, we have registered to be compliant". "However, this registration in no way shares any user or personal data with any Russian regulatory bodies and we have not handed over any data to their government," the spokesperson added. Some Russian internet users made fun of the move, warning that FSB officers will now have access to any steamy correspondence or unrequited pickup attempts.

Russia requires Tinder to share users' data with security services

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