Telegram CEO Pavel Durov Faces Charges in France for Allegedly Allowing Organised Crime
Key Highlights:
- Free Speech vs. Law Enforcement: Arrest raises questions on balancing free speech with the enforcement of laws.
- Serious Allegations: Charges include complicity in illicit activities, such as drug trafficking and child exploitation on Telegram.
- Diplomatic Tensions: Durov's detention has implications for France-Russia relations.
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov is now under formal investigation by a French judge over allegations of facilitating organized crime through the messaging app Telegram. The judge granted Durov bail with strict conditions: he must pay 5 million euros, report to the police twice a week, and is prohibited from leaving French territory.
Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau confirmed that there is enough evidence to formally investigate Durov on multiple charges, including enabling illicit transactions, sharing child abuse imagery, drug trafficking, fraud, money laundering, and refusing to cooperate with law enforcement by not providing necessary information.
Although being placed under formal investigation in France does not necessarily imply guilt or guarantee a trial, it does mean the judge believes there is sufficient evidence to continue the probe. Such investigations can take years before a decision is made to either proceed to trial or drop the case.
Durov's arrest took place at an airport near Paris on Saturday evening, and it has ignited a broader debate over the boundaries between freedom of speech and law enforcement. It also highlights the friction between governments and tech companies like Telegram, which has nearly 1 billion users. The arrest serves as a cautionary example for other tech companies that resist cooperation with authorities over illegal activities on their platforms.
Russian state news agency RIA shared a video on Telegram showing Durov leaving the prosecutor's office, wearing a black outfit, baseball cap, and sunglasses, and getting into a waiting vehicle. Reuters could not verify the authenticity of the video.
Prosecutor Beccuau noted that Telegram has been implicated in various criminal activities, and the platform's "almost total lack of response" to judicial requests has drawn scrutiny from the Paris prosecutor's cybercrime unit and other investigative bodies across Europe, including Belgium's Eurojust.
The investigation into Durov's role began in February, led by France's National Office for Minors, with an initial indictment issued in July. This probe seeks to determine the potential criminal liability of Telegram's management in the commission of these offenses.
Also Read: Telegram CEO Arrested
Telegram has made minimal comments on Durov's arrest. On Monday, the platform stated it complies with European Union laws and maintains industry-standard moderation practices, which it claims are continuously improving. The company dismissed the accusations, arguing, "It is absurd to claim that a platform, or its owner, are responsible for abuse of that platform."
Durov's lawyer has not commented on the situation.