Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has been released from police custody by French prosecutors after four days of questioning related to allegations that the messaging platform is being used for illegal activities.
Durov was arrested on Saturday at Le Bourget air terminal, right outside Paris, as part of a judicial investigation launched last month that involves 12 suspected criminal offenses.
In an explanation Wednesday, the Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed Durov’s release, noting, “An investigating judge has ended Pavel Durov’s police custody and will have him brought to court for a first appearance and a possible indictment.”
The Russian-born tech business person, who currently holds French citizenship, faces serious allegations, including claims that Telegram has been utilized for dispersing youngster sexual maltreatment material, facilitating drug trafficking, committing fraud, and aiding organized crime. Additionally, Durov’s refusal to cooperate with investigators by withholding information or documents when legally required has further complicated his legal troubles.
The Paris prosecutor’s office chose to expand his stay in custody by a further 48 hours on Monday. Durov’s arrest provoked mixed reactions internationally. In Russia, authorities censured the move as politically roused, blaming the West of double standards on freedom of speech.
This contrasts with Russia’s previous failed attempt to ban Telegram in 2018, later lifted in 2020.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also commented, praising France’s “strict” stance on internet governance. Repeated limitations placed on citizen usage culminated in an official ban during the country’s 2017-18 anti-government street protests.
Telegram remains a widely used news source in Ukraine, with media outlets and officials utilizing it to provide updates on the war and issue missile and air raid alerts.
French President Emmanuel Macron denied any political motivation behind Durov’s arrest. On X, formerly Twitter, he emphasized France’s commitment to freedom of expression within a legal framework that protects citizens’ rights.
Telegram responded by defending its moderation efforts, insisting that holding a platform responsible for misuse by its users is “absurd.”
In a statement posted on its platform after Durov’s arrest, it was stressed by the app that EU laws are abided by and belief in the quality of its moderation was maintained.
“It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner is responsible for abuse of that platform,” the post said. “Almost a billion users globally use Telegram as means of communication and as a source of vital information. We’re awaiting a prompt resolution of this situation. Telegram is with you all.”
In 2022, Germany fined Telegram’s operators$5 million for neglecting to follow lawful necessities in regards to unlawful substance.
Preceding this, German police warned that the application was turning into a “mode for radicalization,” utilized by some to target legislators, researchers and specialists for their job in handling the Covid pandemic.
Since its launch in 2013, Wire has borne the brunt of legislative resistance, in light of encrypted messaging’s use as a vital tool for dissent and correspondence.
Telegram’s self-destructing “secret chats” feature end-to-end encryption and other security features that appeal to digital communities looking for an alternative to the market’s dominant Meta-owned platforms WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.
Presently situated in Dubai, Durov is a significant figure with regards to Russian digital and political organizing. After founding VKontakte (Russia’s largest social network), he faced pressure from Russian authorities, especially after the 2011-2012 protests against Vladimir Putin’s government.
These protests were incompletely coordinated through social media, leading to increased scrutiny on platforms like VKontakte.
In the fallout, Durov wouldn’t give Russian authorities with personal data of Ukrainian protesters and Russian opposition activists.
The ousting from VKontakte was led to by this refusal, after which Russia was left by him. The creation of Telegram was directly influenced by Durov’s experiences with government pressure.
