French prosecutors charge Telegram CEO Pavel Durov with complicity in child exploitation, drug trafficking

French authorities have disclosed the charges against Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov, who was arrested on Aug. 24 at Le Bourget airport near Paris.

Durov faces a series of grave accusations, including complicity in child exploitation, drug trafficking, and other organized criminal activities, marking a significant escalation in a judicial investigation that has garnered international attention. The full list of charges includes:

• Operating an online platform facilitating illegal transactions in an organized group
• Refusal to provide requested information and documents necessary for legal interceptions
• Possession and distribution of child pornography in an organized group
• Involvement in narcotic substances trafficking
• Provision of tools and data for illegal access to automated data processing systems
• Organized fraud
• Criminal association for committing crimes punishable by five or more years of imprisonment
• Money laundering related to organized crime
• Providing cryptology services without proper certification
• Importing cryptology tools without prior declaration

The investigation, which began on July 8, is spearheaded by the Fight against Cybercrime Unit (JUNALCO) of the Paris Prosecutor’s Office. It targets an unnamed individual and accuses Durov of using Telegram as a platform to facilitate illegal transactions, possess and distribute child pornography, and participate in narcotics trafficking.

Additional charges include obstructing law enforcement by refusing to provide critical information necessary for carrying out legal interceptions, a charge that has been particularly contentious given Telegram’s history of resisting government surveillance.

Held in custody

According to the press release, Durov is currently held in police custody under the legal framework governing organized crime, which allows for his detention until Aug. 28.

This arrest represents one of the most high-profile legal actions taken against a tech company executive in recent years, and it has raised questions about the role of social media platforms in moderating content and cooperating with law enforcement.

Telegram, a messaging app with over 700 million users globally, has long been criticized for its hands-off approach to content moderation. While the platform has stated that it removes channels involved in illegal activities, such as child exploitation, critics argue that Telegram’s efforts have been insufficient.

Telegram responded to the charges in a statement on X, asserting that it complies with European Union laws and dismissing the allegations as unfounded. The company emphasized that Durov has “nothing to hide” and criticized the notion that the platform or its founder should be held accountable for the misuse of its product by bad elements.

Political motivations?

French President Emmanuel Macron addressed the controversy surrounding Durov’s arrest, stating that it was purely a legal action and not influenced by political motives.

Macron said in a social media post earlier in the day:

“The arrest of the head of Telegram on French territory took place in the context of a judicial inquiry in process. It was not in any way a political decision.”

Despite these assurances, the arrest has ignited a wave of criticism from figures such as whistleblower Edward Snowden and tech mogul Elon Musk, who have decried the move as an attack on free speech. Robert F. Kennedy also tweeted in Durov’s support and emphasized the importance of protecting such basic human rights.

Durov’s arrest also sparked reactions from within the tech community, where his commitment to privacy and free speech has garnered both support and criticism. Critics argue that Telegram’s lack of cooperation with governments around the world has enabled criminal activities, ranging from terrorism to financial scams, to flourish on the platform.

Durov, who first gained prominence as the founder of Russia’s largest social media platform, VK, has a history of defying government pressure. He recently told Tucker Carlson in an interview that he was essentially forced to sell VK and “exiled” from Russia after refusing to comply with the government’s attempts to access and monitor user data.

He established Telegram in 2013 as a platform committed to free speech and privacy. However, the platform’s minimal moderation has drawn criticism, with experts pointing out that it has become a haven for extremists, scammers, and other illicit actors.

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