Pavel Durov, CEO of Telegram, has been charged by a French investigative judge for allegedly enabling illegal transactions and other criminal activities on the platform, according to reports from NBC News and Le Monde.
Durov was arrested on Saturday in connection with an investigation into child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and other unlawful activities on Telegram.
Durov was detained upon his arrival in Paris, following a warrant issued by France’s OFMIN agency, which is responsible for preventing violence against minors. An agency official pointed to Telegram’s “lack of moderation and cooperation” as a key reason for the investigation. French prosecutors have since released Durov under judicial supervision on a €5 million bail, with the stipulation that he remains in France.
In addition to the charges of enabling illegal transactions, Durov faces accusations of refusing to cooperate with authorities and being complicit in the criminal distribution of CSAM. The Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed that Durov was released from police custody on Wednesday morning and is expected to make his first court appearance soon, where he could face a possible indictment.
Telegram responded to the allegations with a statement on Sunday, asserting that Durov has “nothing to hide” and dismissing the claims that the platform is responsible for user abuse as “absurd.” While Telegram serves as a crucial source of information in countries like Russia, where uncensored news is scarce, it has also been criticized for its hands-off approach to moderation, which has allowed the platform to become a haven for terrorists and other criminal elements.
