Telegram Founder Pavel Durov Now Faces Serious Charges in French Court

Key Points:

• Telegram founder Pavel Durov was released from French police custody and is set for court questioning following his arrest at Paris-Le Bourget Airport.
• The arrest is linked to accusations that Telegram facilitated illegal activities due to its minimal content moderation.
• Durov’s detention has raised concerns about freedom of speech, particularly in Ukraine and Russia.

Pavel Durov, chief executive of the messaging app Telegram, was released by police in France on Wednesday and is expected to have preliminary questioning in Paris, possibly with an indictment.

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Telegram Founder Pavel Durov Is Released from Custody in France

Durov’s release came after he was detained at Le Bourget Airport in Paris on Saturday at the request of an arrest warrant related to Telegram’s moderation policy of content.

The Russian-born billionaire was detained upon arrival from Azerbaijan because border guards had informed the French authorities. According to an arrest warrant filed on March 25, Telegram founder Pavel Durov, alongside his brother Nikolai, is being charged with complicity in the distribution of pornographic images of minors, among a list of severe charges.

The investigation started in July on charges that Telegram has been used by fraudsters, drug traffickers, and a number of people distributing child pornography.

Arrest Triggers Debates on Freedom of Speech and Platform Regulation

Scant content moderation within the app has also sparked concerns about its utilization by terrorist groups and far-right extremists. Durov was arrested for a duration of as long as 96 hours, which is the legal limit in France before charges must be pressed.

The arrest of Telegram founder Pavel Durov has brewed a storm of controversy on freedom of speech, especially in Ukraine and Russia, which both depend on Telegram as a vital means of communication during the war that has engulfed both countries.

Introduced in 2013 by Durov and his brother, Telegram boasts more than 950 million users around the world and boasts encrypted chats, which minimize moderation by both Telegram and law enforcement. The court date will determine whether Durov will be formally indicted.