On Wednesday, French authorities charged Pavel Durov, the CEO of Telegram, with several preliminary accusations related to alleged criminal activities on his messaging app. This legal action came after Durov was detained at Le Bourget airport near Paris on Saturday. He was held for four days before being released on Wednesday following extensive questioning.
In addition to the charges, Durov has been prohibited from leaving France as the investigation continues. He has been required to post a 5 million euros bail and must report to a police station twice weekly. The preliminary charges against Durov involve various serious allegations, including the use of Telegram for child sexual abuse material and drug trafficking. There are also claims that Telegram did not comply with legal requests for information and documents from investigators.
The arrest has sparked significant controversy in Russia, where some officials view it as politically motivated and indicative of Western double standards on freedom of speech. This reaction is noteworthy given that Russian authorities attempted to ban Telegram in 2018, only to lift the ban in 2020 after failing to enforce it.
The specific charges against Durov include:
Complicity in Illicit Online Activities: Telegram is accused of facilitating illegal transactions and other criminal activities on its platform.
Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Material: Durov is alleged to have allowed the spread of exploitative content involving children on Telegram.
Involvement in Drug Trafficking: Allegations have been made that Telegram has served as a platform for the sale and distribution of illegal drugs, facilitating these transactions through its messaging services
Fraud: There are suspicions that Durov facilitated fraudulent activities through his platform.
Non-Compliance with Authorities: Telegram is alleged to have refused to provide required information to law enforcement.
Money Laundering: The platform is also accused of enabling money laundering activities.
Facilitation of Criminal Activities through Encryption: It is alleged that Telegram’s encryption services have been exploited by criminals, enabling them to evade detection and carry out illegal activities without being easily traced.
This unfolding situation has led to Durov being placed under formal investigation by French authorities as they continue their scrutiny.
