Telegram CEO Charged with Multiple Crimes

French prosecutors have officially charged Pavel Durov, the CEO of Telegram, with involvement in several illegal activities through the popular messaging platform. The charges were announced on Wednesday, following his arrest on Saturday. Durov, who holds both Russian and French citizenship, is under formal investigation and faces accusations related to the distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), organized crime, illegal transactions, drug trafficking, and fraud.

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Refusal to Cooperate with Authorities

In addition to the serious criminal charges, Durov has also been accused of refusing to provide authorities with crucial information or documents needed for lawful investigations. This charge stems from his alleged non-compliance with requests from legal authorities.

Durov, 41, was apprehended at Le Bourget airport, located north of Paris, after landing from a private jet around 8 PM local time. Although he is banned from leaving France and must report to authorities twice a week, Durov was able to avoid pretrial detention by paying a bail of five million euros.

Background of the Investigation

The investigation into Telegram’s activities began on July 8, 2024, following concerns about the platform’s lax moderation policies, which allegedly allowed illegal and extremist content to flourish. This preliminary inquiry was initiated in February 2024 and led to Durov’s arrest as part of the ongoing investigation.

Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau noted that Telegram’s lack of cooperation with judicial requests raised alarms within France’s cybercrime division (J3) and the National Jurisdiction for the Fight against Organized Crime (JUNALCO). Other European investigative bodies, including those in Belgium, also expressed similar concerns, prompting JUNALCO to probe the potential criminal responsibility of Telegram’s management.

Additional Accusations Against Durov

Durov is also facing charges related to the unauthorized provision of cryptographic services and tools without proper declarations, which were allegedly used to maintain the confidentiality of illegal activities. These charges further complicate his legal standing as one of the few tech executives held accountable for content shared by users on a massive platform, which boasts over 950 million monthly active users.

Telegram’s Response and Ongoing Legal Battle

In response to the arrest, Telegram released a statement on X (formerly Twitter), asserting that Durov has “nothing to hide” and labeling the accusations as absurd. The company emphasized that it regularly bans groups and channels associated with child abuse and other illegal activities, further stating that its terms of service clearly prohibit illegal content on its platform.

It was also reported by Politico that in March 2024, French authorities issued arrest warrants for both Pavel Durov and his brother Nikolai, who co-founded Telegram. French President Emmanuel Macron clarified that Durov’s arrest was part of an independent investigation, not a political move.

In a surprising turn of events, the Wall Street Journal revealed that French intelligence had hacked Durov’s iPhone in 2017 during a covert operation named Purple Music, conducted with the cooperation of the United Arab Emirates. This operation was driven by concerns over Telegram’s use by ISIS to recruit and plan attacks, highlighting the broader implications of the platform’s management of user content.