Pavel Durov, the founder of the messaging platform Telegram, has recently made headlines following his arrest at a private airport near Paris on Saturday. Reports suggest that the arrest is part of an investigation into criminal activities allegedly facilitated on Telegram.
The incident has sparked discussions on several fronts. Some debates focus on free speech, questioning whether activities on Telegram should remain private. Meanwhile, other narratives highlight Durov’s distinctive anti-establishment stance. A particularly notable story involves Durov’s claim in a post from late July that he has fathered over 100 biological children. This claim stems from his donations to a sperm bank 15 years ago, initially to help a friend conceive.
Durov explained that he continued to donate after the clinic owner convinced him it was his civic duty. In the same post, he announced plans to “open-source” his DNA, in part to ensure that these children can find each other and avoid accidental marriages in the future.
