After Telegram CEO Pavel Durov was arrested at Le Bourget Airport in France on August 25, he was held for 96-hour questioning. On Wednesday, he was taken to court and indicted on several serious crimes. The court has accused Durov of enabling the distribution of child pornography in an organised manner, along with facilitating drug trafficking and engaging in fraudulent activities. The Telegram CEO now walks free but has been asked not to leave France until further notice. Durov was arrested on allegations that he failed to adequately moderate illegal activities on Telegram.
The investigation against Durov involves allegations of complicity in various crimes, including facilitating the distribution of child pornography, drug trafficking, and fraud via the Telegram app, according to French prosecutor Laure Beccuau. Telegram is also accused of non-cooperation with authorities, money laundering, and providing encryption services to criminals. Durov was released on bail of 5 million euros, with conditions that he remain in France and report to the police twice a week. According to a report by AP, preliminary charges suggest strong evidence but allow time for further investigation.
Pavel Durov was arrested on Sunday, August 25 at Le Bourget Airport as he got off from his private jet. He was detained under a warrant related to the messaging app. The investigation centres on allegations that the Telegram CEO neglected to moderate criminal activities on Telegram, leading to his arrest.
Telegram on Monday denied allegations calling the accusations “absurd”. “Telegram’s CEO Pavel Durov has nothing to hide and travels frequently in Europe. It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform. Almost a billion users globally use Telegram as means of communication and as a source of vital information. We’re awaiting a prompt resolution of this situation,” Telegram wrote in a post on X. “Telegram abides by EU laws, including the Digital Services Act – its moderation is within industry standards and constantly improving,” the post further reads.
Western governments have been ramping up pressure on platforms like Telegram to moderate content, particularly due to the platform’s robust encryption features. Meanwhile, Telegram’s CEO Pavel Durov has consistently emphasised the platform’s commitment to neutrality, privacy, and independence. His recent arrest underscores the growing challenges to free speech and autonomy in the tech industry. It also exposes the dangers faced by those who resist government demands to control content on their platforms, suggesting that the broader issue may be one of governmental overreach and suppression of dissenting voices.
Source Agencies
