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Editor’s note: This article has been updated withTelegram CEO Pavel Durov was issued preliminary charges in France Wednesday shortly after being released from police custody
Why it matters: Durov’s arrest in connection to illicit activity on the messaging app sparked an outcry among anti-censorship advocates. It also raised questions about how other other social media companies and executives could be held accountable for the content on their platforms.
Driving the news: The charges against Durov include complicity in managing an online platform to enable illegal transactions; complicity in crimes such as enabling the distribution of child sexual abuse material, drug trafficking and fraud; and a refusal to cooperate with law enforcement.
- Bail was set 5 million euros (about $5.5 million), and Durov was released but ordered to check in at a police station twice a week, per a statement from Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau.
- The Paris prosecutor’s office had said in a statement Wednesday that Durov was released from custody but would be transferred to court for his first appearance before a judge ahead of a possible indictment, AP reported.
- The French investigative judge placed him under formal investigation, preventing him from leaving France.
The big picture: Durov, 39, was arrested at an airport outside Paris on Saturday shortly after landing in a private jet.
- The Paris prosecutor’s office said in a statement Monday that his arrest was in connection to a broader investigation opened last month into an unnamed person, focused on criminal activity on Telegram as well as the company’s alleged unwillingness to cooperate with law enforcement.
Catch up quick: Durov is one of the world’s richest and most influential tech entrepreneurs.
- He was born in Russia but fled the country in 2014 after refusing to share data on Ukrainian users of Vkontakte, the social media site he founded in 2006.
- He currently holds several citizenships, including French.
What they’re saying: Telegram said in a statement after the arrest that it abides by EU laws, its content moderation is “within industry standards and constantly improving,” and Durov “has nothing to hide.”
- Durov’s lawyer David-Olivier Kaminski echoed those comments in a media statement on Wednesday, adding: “It is totally absurd to think that the head of a social network… could be involved in criminal acts” that could be committed on the messaging service.”
Zoom in: Telegram is one of the world’s largest messaging apps and a rival to Meta-owned WhatsApp.
- Its loose content moderation policies have made it an attractive platform for cybercriminals, terrorism organizations and drug dealers.
- Telegram offers users the ability to send messages with end-to-end encryption, making it virtually impossible for the company and law enforcement to monitor what’s discussed on the platform.
Go deeper: How Telegram became a destination for criminals
Editor’s note: This article has been updated with comment by lawyer David-Olivier Kaminski.
Go deeper
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov arrested in France
French authorities arrested Pavel Durov, the CEO of encrypted messaging app Telegram, on Saturday night, the prosecutor’s office in Paris confirmed Monday.
Why it matters: The arrest appears tied to Telegram’s looser content moderation policies, and the company’s reported unwillingness to cooperate with law enforcement.
What to know about Telegram CEO Pavel Durov
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov’s arrest in France this weekend and charges issued Wednesday have put the platform’s content moderation policies and its creator’s role in them back in the spotlight.
Why it matters: The case could become a free speech rallying cry while setting a precedent for other social media executives.
How Telegram became a destination for criminals
Telegram has long been a hotbed for cybercriminal gangs boasting about their attacks and looking to recruit new members.
Why it matters: Telegram CEO Pavel Durov’s arrest over the weekend has put a spotlight on what policies Telegram does — and doesn’t — have to deter cybercriminals and extremist groups who use its platform.