29-8-2024 (PARIS) Pavel Durov, the enigmatic founder of the popular messaging app Telegram, has been placed under formal investigation by French authorities. The Russian-born tech mogul, who also holds French citizenship, is now barred from leaving France as the probe into alleged criminal activities on his platform intensifies.
The Paris prosecutor’s office announced late Wednesday that Durov is being investigated for a series of suspected offences, including complicity in illegal gang transactions and money laundering. The 39-year-old billionaire has been released from police custody but must remain in France under strict judicial supervision, with bail set at a staggering €5 million.
Durov’s legal troubles began when he was detained at Paris’s Bourget Airport on Saturday, following concerns about Telegram’s lack of content moderation. The platform, known for its encrypted messaging service, has long been criticised for potentially enabling illicit activities ranging from drug trafficking to the spread of extremist content.
The French National Office for Minors has reportedly raised alarms about Telegram’s apparent lack of cooperation in addressing offences related to trafficking, online hate speech, and crimes against children. This perceived unresponsiveness has now placed Durov at the centre of a complex legal battle that could have far-reaching implications for the tech industry.
While the formal investigation does not equate to guilt under the French legal system, it signifies that prosecutors believe there is sufficient evidence to warrant a thorough official inquiry. The most serious allegation – complicity in the administration of a platform enabling illegal transactions by an organised gang – carries a potential maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment.
The arrest and subsequent investigation of Durov have sparked a heated debate about freedom of speech and digital privacy. Telegram, with its reported user base of over 950 million, has become a vital communication tool in many countries, particularly in Ukraine and Russia amidst the ongoing conflict.
The Russian government has criticised France’s actions, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova accusing the French leadership of “trampling on international norms” regarding freedom of speech. However, French President Emmanuel Macron has insisted that the decision to bring charges against Durov is “in no way political”, an unusual intervention in a judicial matter by a French leader.
Durov, often referred to as the “Mark Zuckerberg of Russia”, left his homeland in 2014 and has since maintained a lavish, globetrotting lifestyle from his base in Dubai. His stance on privacy and encryption has won him admirers among free speech advocates, but has also drawn criticism from those who argue that Telegram has become a haven for criminal activities.
