Telegram misuse: Pavel Durov apprehended, charged in France

The CEO and co-founder of Telegram, Pavel Durov, has been apprehended by French authorities and charged with serious violations related to the messaging app’s operations.

The 39-year-old Franco-Russian billionaire was detained at Le Bourget airport near Paris on August 24, 2024, under a warrant issued for his alleged involvement in criminal activities facilitated through Telegram.

The charges against Pavel Durov include complicity in managing an online platform that enables illicit transactions, refusal to cooperate with authorities by withholding requested documents, and the distribution of child pornography.

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Additionally, he faces accusations of facilitating drug trafficking, fraud, and money laundering through the app.

Despite the severity of the allegations, Durov was granted conditional release after posting a five million euro bail. Under the release conditions, he must remain in France, report to a police station twice a week, and is prohibited from leaving the country, according to a statement from Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau.

The investigation into Telegram’s activities by French authorities commenced in February 2024, driven by concerns over the platform’s “near total absence of response” to law enforcement requests.

This case underscores the increasing global scrutiny on tech companies and their role in managing and regulating content on their platforms.