Latest from Interview
Ashkan Armandehi, CEO of Divar platform, criticized the judicial system's current approach toward digital platforms. He said much of his time, instead of focusing on product development, is spent traveling to courts for cases involving user violations. He attributed this to a lack of understanding of platform operations and their role as hosts.
In a LinkedIn post, Armandehi shared that he travels to a city almost every month for legal cases. Over the last two months alone, seven cases accusing him of 'complicity in fraud through deposit receipts' have been filed in Ahvaz.
The CEO questioned whether the judicial and law enforcement systems fully understand digital platforms.
He explained that Divar operates as a hosting platform for content publication, similar to a commercial complex owner who ensures security but isn't liable for tenant actions. Under the law, users are responsible for their content, not the host. Despite this, some judicial branches summon the CEO as an 'accomplice in the crime.'
Armandehi also highlighted Divar's monthly active user base of 45 million. He noted that summons prevent him from focusing on improving the platform, especially since plaintiffs in these cases often have no direct complaints against Divar itself.
Divar's Efforts in Safety and Fraud Prevention
The CEO outlined measures taken by Divar to address user violations. He mentioned the creation of a 'Platform Safety and Fraud Prevention' team in 2018. The company also launched a 'Secure Payment' service to reduce deposit fraud risks. Additionally, multiple warnings are displayed in the app to alert users about payment deposit dangers.
Proposals to Reform Judicial Practices
Armandehi presented three proposals to streamline legal processes for digital platforms. First, he called for accepting legal representatives instead of summoning CEOs personally. Second, he suggested consolidating similar cases to avoid repeated summons over identical issues. Lastly, he proposed enabling digital collaboration by handling cases online or through specialized judicial branches.
He concluded his post by inviting constructive dialogue, emphasizing that the growth of the digital economy depends on a forward-thinking judicial system that understands digital platforms and promotes security and efficiency.
