Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of Telegram, is under formal investigation in France concerning organized crime activities linked to the messaging app. The Paris prosecutors’ office has placed Durov under judicial supervision, requiring him to pay a €5 million deposit and report to a French police station twice a week. He is also barred from leaving France.
Durov was detained at Le Bourget airport near Paris last Saturday under a warrant related to his app. The investigation includes allegations of:
- Complicity in facilitating illicit transactions by organized gangs through Telegram.
- Refusal to cooperate with authorities.
- Complicity in the organized distribution of child sexual abuse images.
Being placed under formal investigation does not imply guilt but indicates that authorities have sufficient grounds to proceed with their inquiry. Durov has not commented publicly on these allegations. His lawyer, David-Olivier Kaminski, stated that Telegram complies with European digital regulations and maintains moderation standards comparable to other social networks. Kaminski called the allegations against Durov “absurd.”
This case is notable as it marks a rare instance where a social media platform owner has been detained due to the use of their platform. The situation has sparked discussions about freedom of speech and the responsibilities of tech companies. Elon Musk, owner of X (formerly Twitter), has supported Durov, criticizing the notion of moderation as censorship. Chris Pavlovski, founder of the video-sharing app Rumble, reported fleeing Europe in response to Durov’s detention.
Telegram, headquartered in Dubai, faces accusations of ignoring serious criminal offenses related to child abuse material. The company contends that its moderation tools meet industry standards. French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized France’s commitment to freedom of expression and stated that the case is not politically motivated.
Telegram, with over 950 million registered users, has been criticized for not participating in international child protection programs. Durov, who founded VKontakte and left Russia in 2014 due to government pressure, holds multiple passports including those from St Kitts and Nevis and the UAE.
The ongoing investigation continues to draw international attention, with concerns about the security and reliability of Telegram’s platform.
