French Authorities Release Charges Against Pavel Durov

posted  27 Aug 2024
Photo - French Authorities Release Charges Against Pavel Durov
Pavel Durov, the founder of the messaging app Telegram, was detained by French police on August 24 as his private plane landed at an airport near Paris. Initially, the reasons for his detention were unclear.  

On August 26th, the French prosecutor's office released 12 charges that initiated the judicial investigation. These include:
  • Failure to supply necessary information or documents for legally authorized interceptions when requested by authorities.
  • Complicity in storing pornographic images featuring minors.
  • Providing cryptographic services designed to ensure confidentiality without proper certification.
  • Complicity in organized fraud.
  • Money laundering related to crimes conducted by organized groups.
On the same day, French President Emmanuel Macron also stated that Durov's arrest was not a political decision, emphasizing that France is committed to freedom of speech and communication  
Additionally, according to The Times of India, the Indian government has launched an investigation into Telegram that could potentially lead to its ban, depending on the probe findings.