Pavel Durov, the billionaire founder of the messaging platform Telegram, has been placed under formal investigation in France as part of a probe into organised crime facilitated through his app.
The Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed that the Russian-born tech mogul, who also holds French citizenship, faces several serious allegations, including complicity in illicit transactions and the distribution of child sexual abuse material.
Durov, 39, was detained upon arrival at Le Bourget airport near Paris last Saturday, responding to a warrant issued in connection with these offences. Although he has not been remanded in custody, he remains under judicial supervision, with strict conditions imposed.
These include a €5 million deposit, twice-weekly check-ins at a French police station, and a prohibition on leaving French territory.
The allegations against Durov are extensive and include: Complicity in the administration of an online platform enabling illicit transactions by an organised gang, Refusal to cooperate with authorities and Complicity in the organized criminal distribution of sexual images of children.
In France, being placed under formal investigation signifies that judges believe there is sufficient evidence to pursue the matter further, though it does not imply guilt or necessarily lead to a trial.
Durov has yet to comment publicly on the situation. His lawyer, David-Olivier Kaminski, defended his client, asserting that Telegram adheres to European digital regulations and that its moderation standards align with those of other social networks. Kaminski dismissed the accusations as “absurd,” insisting that Durov had no direct or indirect involvement in the criminal activities attributed to the platform.
The case has ignited a heated debate about freedom of speech and the responsibilities of social media platforms. This incident marks the first time a social media executive has been detained due to the platform’s misuse by its users. While tech leaders have previously been summoned to testify before lawmakers, Durov’s case represents an unprecedented legal escalation.
Elon Musk, owner of X (formerly Twitter), has publicly defended Durov, claiming that moderation is merely a “propaganda word” for censorship and calling for his release. Similarly, Chris Pavlovski, the founder of Rumble, another controversial platform, announced that he had fled Europe following Durov’s detention, signaling rising concerns among tech entrepreneurs about their legal liabilities.
While many of the world’s largest social media platforms collaborate with national and international authorities to combat serious crimes, including the spread of child sexual abuse material, Telegram has been accused of failing to engage with these efforts. The platform, which now operates out of Dubai, maintains that its moderation tools are on par with industry standards.
French President Emmanuel Macron, addressing the controversy, reiterated France’s commitment to freedom of expression, stressing that the legal actions against Durov were “in no way… political.” Nonetheless, the case has raised questions about the balance between upholding free speech and ensuring accountability for the misuse of digital platforms.
Telegram, known for its encrypted messaging capabilities and large group chat functionalities, has grown to over 950 million registered users since its founding in 2013. It is particularly popular in Russia, Ukraine, and other former Soviet states, as well as in Iran.
The platform’s encryption features, which require manual activation for private chats, have often placed it at the center of debates over user privacy versus security concerns.
The Russian government has also weighed in, suggesting that the charges against Durov could be interpreted as an attempt to “intimidate” a major technology company for political reasons, should the evidence prove insufficient.
Durov, who also founded the Russian social media platform VKontakte, left Russia in 2014 after refusing government orders to shut down opposition groups on the network. In addition to his Russian and French citizenships, Durov holds passports from St. Kitts and Nevis and the United Arab Emirates.
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