August 29th 2024.
Paris: On a Saturday night, Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of the popular encrypted messaging service Telegram, found himself in a difficult situation when he was arrested by French police at an airport outside of Paris. It was a shock to many, including Durov himself, as he was on his way to meet with potential investors.
Thankfully, Durov was later released on a five-million-euro bail, but with some conditions. According to Paris Public Prosecutor Laure Beccuau, he is required to report to the police twice a week and is prohibited from leaving France while the investigation is ongoing. This all stems from an investigation that was opened back in 2024, after Durov was accused of 12 criminal offenses, including allowing cyberbullying, sharing pedophilic content, and glorifying terrorism on Telegram.
Beccuau stated on Wednesday night, as reported by Xinhua news agency, that Durov is officially under investigation for six charges. This includes the refusal to communicate necessary information or documents to authorities for the purpose of carrying out lawful interceptions. In response to the arrest, the Telegram group released a statement on their X account, claiming that they abide by all EU laws, including the Digital Services Act. They also stated that it is absurd to hold a platform or its owner responsible for any abuse that may occur on the platform.
French President Emmanuel Macron also weighed in on the situation, stating that Durov's arrest was not a political decision. He clarified that it was part of an ongoing judicial investigation, which began in 2024. However, this did not stop Russian officials from demanding consular access to Durov. The Russian embassy in Paris sent a note to the French Foreign Ministry, which was reported by Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova to the TASS news agency.
The arrest of Durov has caused quite a stir, with many notable figures speaking out against it. Elon Musk, owner of the US social media platform X, and Edward Snowden, former US National Security Agency contractor, both condemned the arrest on Sunday. Despite the backlash, it seems that Durov's fate is now in the hands of the French judicial system. Only time will tell how this situation will unfold.
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