(qlmbusinessnews.com Fri. 30th Aug, 2024) London, UK —
Why Telegram’s Founder is Facing a Criminal Investigation in France
Pavel Durov, the CEO and founder of messaging app Telegram, has been placed under formal investigation in France over alleged links to organised crime, according to the Paris prosecutors. The 39-year-old billionaire, who holds both Russian and French citizenship, faces several serious accusations relating to how Telegram is being used.
Durov has not been detained in custody but is under judicial supervision, requiring him to remain in France, pay a €5 million (£4.2 million) deposit, and report to a local police station twice a week. He was initially stopped and questioned upon his arrival at Le Bourget airport near Paris last Saturday, in relation to offences linked to his platform.
According to a statement released on Wednesday, Durov is formally under investigation for several alleged offences, including complicity in running an online platform used for illicit transactions by organised groups, refusing to cooperate with authorities, and complicity in the distribution of child sexual abuse images by organised criminal networks.
Being placed under formal investigation in France does not imply guilt but indicates that the judges believe there is enough evidence to justify a thorough inquiry. So far, Durov has not publicly commented on the matter.
Durov’s lawyer, David-Olivier Kaminski, has defended his client, stating that Telegram complies fully with European digital regulations and follows similar moderation standards to other social media platforms. Kaminski described the allegations as “absurd,” suggesting that it was inconceivable for Durov to be involved in any such criminal activities, either directly or indirectly.
This development has sparked heated discussions online regarding freedom of expression and the responsibilities of tech platform owners. It is rare for a social media owner to face arrest over their platform's use; typically, tech CEOs face lawmakers for rigorous questioning over corporate practices rather than law enforcement action at an airport.
Elon Musk, the owner of X (formerly Twitter), has expressed support for Durov, calling moderation “a propaganda word for censorship” and demanding his release. Meanwhile, Chris Pavlovski, founder of video-sharing platform Rumble, said he had left Europe after Durov’s detention.
Despite accusations, Telegram has insisted that its content moderation meets industry standards and has refused to engage in international programmes aimed at detecting and removing child sexual abuse material online. The company, which relocated its headquarters to Dubai, remains steadfast in its stance.
French President Emmanuel Macron clarified that Durov's detention was “in no way… political” and emphasised France's commitment to freedom of expression. The arrest comes amid tensions over the platform's extensive reach; unlike other messaging services such as WhatsApp, Telegram allows groups of up to 200,000 users.
Russia, meanwhile, has warned France against turning the investigation into a “political persecution,” suggesting that without substantial evidence, the case could be seen as an attempt to intimidate. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov remarked that, while President Macron denied any political motivations, there were “certain accusations being made.”
Telegram, founded in 2013, has more than 950 million registered users and remains particularly popular in countries like Russia, Ukraine, and Iran. However, recent revelations that Telegram repeatedly refused to join international child protection schemes have raised concerns about its approach to platform regulation and user safety.
Pavel Durov, who also founded the popular Russian social network VKontakte, left Russia in 2014 after resisting government demands to shut down opposition communities. He currently holds passports from St Kitts and Nevis and the United Arab Emirates, in addition to Russian and French citizenship.
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