Telegram CEO Pavel Durov Charged in France & Released on $5 Million Bail

TLDR:

• Telegram CEO Pavel Durov was arrested in France and faces six charges related to illegal activities on the platform
• Durov was released on €5 million bail but is barred from leaving France
• Charges include complicity in enabling illegal transactions and refusal to cooperate with authorities
• The arrest has sparked debate about online free speech and tech regulation
• Telegram defended itself, saying it abides by EU laws and has “nothing to hide”

Pavel Durov, the CEO and founder of messaging app Telegram, faces legal trouble in France. On August 28, 2024, French authorities indicted Durov on six charges related to illegal activities allegedly occurring on the Telegram platform.

The charges include complicity in managing an online platform “to enable illegal transactions in organized groups” and refusing to cooperate with law enforcement.

Durov was arrested on August 24 at Paris’ Le Bourget airport as part of a broader investigation into criminal activity on Telegram.

After four days in custody, he was released on €5 million bail. However, Durov is not allowed to leave France and must check in at a police station twice a week.

The Paris prosecutor’s office stated that Telegram “appears in multiple cases involving various offenses” including child sexual abuse, drug trafficking, and online hate speech.

They pointed to Telegram’s “almost total failure to respond to judicial requests” as a key issue.

French authorities opened a preliminary investigation into Telegram in February 2024. In March, they issued arrest warrants for both Pavel Durov and his brother Nikolai.

Durov’s lawyer, David-Olivier Kaminski, called the charges “absurd,” stating that Telegram complies with European digital regulations.

Telegram itself pushed back against the allegations, saying in an online statement that it abides by all EU laws and that Durov “has nothing to hide.”

The arrest and charges have ignited debate about online free speech and technology regulation. Telegram, known for its encrypted messaging and loose content moderation, has faced scrutiny over accusations of enabling fraud, drug trafficking, organized crime, and terrorism promotion on the platform.

The app, launched in 2013, now boasts over 950 million users worldwide. Durov has long defended Telegram’s approach to privacy and security, stating in a 2016 interview,

“You cannot make it safe against criminals and open for governments. It’s either secure or not secure.”

The case has also drawn international attention. Russian authorities criticized France for the detention, while Ukraine, where Telegram is a key communication tool during the ongoing war, expressed concerns. The United Arab Emirates, where Durov holds citizenship, said it was “closely following the case.”

As the investigation continues, Durov faces potential prison time if convicted.

The charge of complicity in administering a platform enabling illegal transactions in an organized gang carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.