Pavel Durov, CEO of Telegram, has been released from prison and placed under judicial supervision with specific conditions, including the obligation to post a €5 million bond.
Durov is also not allowed to leave French territory and must report to the police station twice a week as part of his bail conditions.
According to a press release from the French anti-organized crime authority JUNALCO, the Paris Court officially charged Durov with six crimes, including “complicity in the management of an online platform that facilitates illegal transactions in an organized gang,” money laundering and refusal to provide information to the authorities.
Not responding
According to the document, the authority was forced to take action after Durov failed to respond to court requests from JUNALCO, the National Office for Minors (OFMFIN) and other investigative services related to drug trafficking, child sexual content and fraud investigations.
It added:
“This is why JUNALCO has opened an investigation into the possible criminal liability of the leaders of this messaging service in connection with these crimes.”
In particular, the French Center for the Fight against Digital Crime (C3N) and the National Customs Anti-Fraud Office (ONAF) will handle subsequent investigations.
French prosecutors emphasized that the investigation appears to concern Telegram’s failure to register its encrypted messaging services with the French government.
Durov, known for his staunch defense of freedom of expression and his opposition to content moderation on Telegram, has faced criticism from child safety groups who claim the platform has become a hub for CSAM and is not cooperating with the efforts to combat this.
Telegram has stated that it uses a mix of moderators, AI and user reports to remove CSAM from public channels, but has yet to provide a method for reporting illegal activity in private chats.
Arrest condemned
Durov’s arrest has sparked reactions from free speech advocates and tech industry figures. Many are criticizing the arrest as a human rights violation and questioning whether the leadership of other social media platforms would also be held responsible for abuse by bad elements.
Some suggested that French authorities are trying to monitor or access communications on Telegram. However, French President Emmanuel Macron made it clear that Durov’s arrest was part of a judicial process without political motives.
Meanwhile, the TON community has formed a DAO to advocate for his freedom and published an open letter calling for his release.