Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has been released from prison and placed under judicial supervision with specific conditions, including the obligation to deposit a €5 million bond.
Durov is also prohibited from leaving the French territory and must report to the police station twice a week as part of his bond conditions.
According to a press release from France’s anti-organized crime authority, JUNALCO, the Paris Judicial Court has officially charged Durov with six offenses, including “complicity in the management of an online platform allowing illegal transactions in an organized gang,” money laundering, and refusal to provide information to authorities.
Failure to respond
According to the document, the authority was forced to act after Durov failed to respond to judicial requests from JUNALCO, the National Office for Minors (OFMFIN), and other investigative services related to drug trafficking, child sexual content, and fraud investigations.
It added:
“This is what led JUNALCO to open an investigation into the possible criminal liability of the leaders of this messaging service in connection with these offenses.”
Notably, the French Center for the Fight Against Digital Crime (C3N) and the National Anti-Fraud Customs Office (ONAF) will handle subsequent investigations.
French prosecutors highlighted that the investigation appears to involve Telegram’s failure to register its encrypted messaging services with the French government.
Durov, known for his staunch defense of free speech and resistance to moderating content on Telegram, has faced criticism from child safety groups who argue that the platform has become a hub for CSAM and remains uncooperative in efforts to combat it.
Telegram has stated that it employs a mix of moderators, AI, and user reports to remove CSAM from public channels but has yet to provide a method for reporting illegal activity in private chats.
Arrest condemned
Durov’s arrest has prompted reactions from free speech advocates and tech industry figures. Many criticize the arrest as a violation of human rights and question whether other social media platforms’ leadership would also be held responsible for misuse by bad elements.
Some suggested that French authorities are trying to control or access communications on Telegram. However, French President Emmanuel Macron clarified that Durov’s arrest was part of a judicial process with no political motivations behind it.
Meanwhile, the TON community has set up a DAO to advocate for his freedom and published an open letter calling for his release.