The CEO and co-founder of Telegram, Pavel Durov, has been formally charged by the French government with various crimes relating to the operation of the popular messaging service.
Durov, a 39-year-old Franco-Russian millionaire, was arrested on August 24, 2024, at Le Bourget airport outside Paris on a warrant for his suspected involvement in numerous illicit acts assisted via Telegram.
The allegations against Durov include cooperation in the operation of an internet platform that facilitates illegal activities, refusing to comply with police by concealing required papers, and disseminating child pornography photos.
He is also accused of using the software to facilitate narcotics trafficking, fraud, and money laundering activities.
Despite the seriousness of the allegations, Durov was given conditional freedom after paying a five-million-euro bond.
According to a statement from Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau, the terms of his parole require him to remain in France, report to a police station twice a week, and not leave the country.
French court authorities launched an inquiry into Telegram’s actions in February 2024, citing worries about the platform’s “near total absence of response” to law enforcement inquiries.
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cc: Daily Post Ng
