Telegram founder Pavel Durov under formal investigation in France
The founder of the popular messaging app Telegram, Pavel Durov, has been placed under formal investigation in France as part of a probe into organized crime on the platform, Paris prosecutors have announced.
The 39-year-old Russian-born billionaire, who is also a French national, was detained upon arrival at Le Bourget airport north of Paris last Saturday and has since been placed under judicial supervision. He has been ordered to pay a €5m deposit, show up at a French police station twice a week, and is not allowed to leave French territory.
The Paris prosecutors stated that Mr. Durov is being investigated for alleged offenses including complicity in the administration of an online platform to enable illicit transactions by an organized gang, refusal to communicate with authorities, and complicity in organized criminal distribution of sexual images of children.
While being put under formal investigation does not imply guilt or necessarily result in a trial, it indicates that judges believe there is enough evidence to proceed with an investigation.
Mr. Durov has not made any public comments on the matter, but his lawyer, David-Olivier Kaminski, has stated that Telegram complies with European digital regulations and is moderated to the same standards as other social networks. He called the allegations against his client “absurd.”
The arrest of a social media platform owner over the way the platform is being used has sparked a debate about freedom of speech and accountability online. Tech mogul Elon Musk has defended Mr. Durov, arguing that moderation is a form of censorship and calling for his release.
Telegram, which has more than 950 million registered users, has been accused of ignoring national and international bodies when it comes to serious criminal offenses such as the sharing of child sexual abuse images. The company, now headquartered in Dubai, maintains that its moderation tools meet industry standards.
The investigation into Mr. Durov has drawn international attention, with Russia suggesting that the charges could be politically motivated. The founder of Telegram left Russia in 2014 after refusing to comply with government demands to shut down opposition communities on his previous social media platform, VKontakte.
The case highlights the challenges faced by social media platforms in balancing freedom of expression with the need to combat illegal activities online.
