The Telegram CEO, Pavel Durov, was issued a preliminary charge in France, shortly after being released from police custody.
Durov’s arrest in connection to the explicit activity on the application sparked an outcry among censorship advocates. It also raised several questions on how executives can be held accountable on several platforms.
Both free-speech advocates and privacy advocates have spoken in his defense since his arrest. This also called challenges for online illegal activities, and Pavel Durov, a Russian, for showcasing unusual biographies and passports.
Durov was arrested at Le Bourget airport outside Paris on Saturday as part of a sweeping investigation opened earlier this Wednesday. On Wednesday, August 28, 2024, after four years of questioning, a preliminary charge was filed by the investigative judges against him. Along with the orders, they demanded to pay a 5 million Euros bail and report to the police station twice a week.
The allegation against Durov stated that his application is being utilized for child sexual abuse and drug trafficking. Additionally, Telegram, when inquired, refused to share documents or information with the investigators.
The first charge against him was “complicity in managing an online platform to allow illicit transactions by an organized group.” It was a company that could lead to a sentence of up to 10 euro fine and a 500,000 euro fine, according to the prosecutors.
The preliminary charge under French law meant magistrates had a strong reason for believing that a crime allowed more time for investigation.
A lawyer for Durov, David-Olivier Kaminski, was quoted saying, “It’s absurd to think that the person in charge of a social network could be implicated in criminal acts that don’t concern him, directly or indirectly.”
Prosecutors about Durov said that “at this stage, the only person implicated in this case.” Along with this, they did not exclude the possibility that there might be other people involved or investigated; however, declined to comment on the arrest warrants.
Pavel Durov’s arrest has impacted worldwide officials; with government officials calling it politically motivated and proof of the double standard on freedom of speech. It has also raised concerns among the Russian authorities since they tried to block the Telegram; however, it failed, withdrawing the ban in 2020.
In Iran, where Telegram is widely used, it is officially banned after years of protests challenging the country’s Shiite theory. His arrest in France prompted comments from the Islamic Republic’s Supreme leader.
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