Pavel Durov, CEO and co-founder of the popular news and messaging app Telegram, has been formally indicted in France for allegedly facilitating numerous criminal transactions through his platform.
French prosecutors said Durov faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of 500,000 euros ($555,750).
The charges against him include conspiracy to distribute child sexual abuse material, drug trafficking, money laundering, fraud and refusing to cooperate with law enforcement.
The Russia-born tech tycoon was arrested on the tarmac as he disembarked on a private jet from Azerbaijan on Saturday.
According to a machine translation of the report: TF1“The judge believes that the lack of moderation, cooperation with police and the tools that Telegram offers (disposable numbers, cryptocurrency, etc.) are contributing to drug trafficking, pedophilia crimes and fraud.”
This is Price list Accusations against Durov Court Judicial officer Paris:
- Conspiracy – webmastering an online platform to enable illegal transactions by an organized group;
- Refuse, at the request of a competent authority, to transmit any information or documents necessary for the performance and operation of an interception authorized by law.
- Complicity – Possession of Indecent Images of a Minor;
- Conspiracy – An organized group distributing, providing or making available indecent images of minors
- Complicity – Acquiring, transporting, possessing, providing or selling narcotic substances;
- Conspiracy – The unauthorized provision, sale or making available of any equipment, tools, programs or data designed or adapted to access or damage the operation of any automated data processing system.
- Conspiracy – Organized Fraud;
- Membership of a criminal organisation with the intent to commit a crime or offence punishable by imprisonment for a term of five years or more.
- Laundering the proceeds of organized crime or criminal activity;
- Providing cryptographic services with the aim of ensuring confidentiality without an authentication declaration;
- Providing cryptographic tools that do not guarantee authentication or integrity monitoring without prior declaration.
- Import cryptographic tools that guarantee authentication or integrity monitoring without prior declaration.
After being held in custody for four days, Durov was reportedly transferred to court on Wednesday to appear before a judge for an initial hearing and “possible prosecution.” NPR.
NBC News Report:
Pavel Durov, CEO and co-founder of the news and messaging app Telegram, has been indicted in France on charges of facilitating numerous criminal transactions, a charge that could carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of 500,000 euros ($555,750), French prosecutors said on Wednesday.
This is one of the few cases in which the CEO of a major internet platform has been held criminally responsible for failing to regulate user behavior on his platform.
The Paris prosecutor’s office said in a statement on Wednesday that Telegram had largely failed to comply with legal requests for user data in cybercrime prosecutions.
Prosecutors cited a number of offences in a statement on Wednesday, including refusing to contact authorities and “complicity” in crimes related to child sexual abuse material and drug trafficking.
Durov’s bail has been set at 5 million euros ($5.6 million) while he awaits trial. He has been barred from leaving France and will be required to surrender to police, it was announced.
On Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted about Durov’s arrest and prison time, saying it was “not politically motivated” and insisting that France truly values freedom of expression, as long as authoritarian governments approve.
Macron wrote:
“After the arrest of Pavel Durov, we came across false information about France.
France is deeply committed to freedom of expression and communication, innovation and entrepreneurship – and this will continue to be the case.
In countries with the rule of law, freedoms are protected within legal frameworks to protect citizens and respect their fundamental rights, both on social media and in real life.
Enforcing the law is the responsibility of a fully independent judiciary.
The arrest of the Telegram CEO in France was made as part of an ongoing judicial investigation. This is in no way a political decision. It is up to the judge to rule on this matter.”
Mike Bentz, president of the Online Freedom Foundation, claims the US State Department engineered billionaire Pavel Durov’s arrest to gain influence over him and pressure him to allow the government to monitor his platform.
Just got kicked out Mario Naufal Since there is space, I will speak my peace here: what is behind today’s arrest of Telegram founder Pavel Durov? pic.twitter.com/FexLvJZK92
— Mike Benz (@MikeBenzCyber) August 25, 2024
In an interview with Tucker Carlson in April, Durov said the FBI had expressed interest in creating a “backdoor” in the Telegram app, ostensibly to spy on users.
