On Wednesday, August 28th, Telegram’s founder Pavel Durov was brought to court by the French authorities after being detained for 96 hours. He awaits the court’s decision on whether he will be released or charged.
According to reports from France 24 TV, Durov was transferred to court as the authorities’ four-day detention period had expired. Since his arrest on Saturday night (August 24th), Durov has been staying at an anti-fraud office in Paris.
As reported by the Associated Press, the Paris prosecutor’s office stated on Wednesday in a press release that Durov had been released but would be handed over to the court. This is his first appearance before the court and he may potentially face charges.
Reuters reported that French investigative judges will decide whether to launch a formal investigation against Durov. Under French law, after being arrested, Durov could be held for up to 96 hours before being released or charged.
Durov’s arrest has garnered global attention, marking one of the harshest actions taken against a social media executive to date. It could further fuel the global debate on whether social media platforms should prioritize online security or freedom of speech.
Telegram, a popular messaging and social media application similar to WhatsApp, has come under scrutiny due to Durov’s arrest. According to the Paris prosecutor’s office, the 39-year-old billionaire’s arrest is linked to illegal activities on the Telegram platform he oversees, including allegations of involvement in fraudulent schemes and drug trafficking.
Prosecutor Laure Beccuau stated that Durov’s arrest was part of an investigation by the office’s cybercrime department into an unidentified individual on July 8. Following the arrest, Telegram issued a statement asserting compliance with EU laws and continuous improvement of content moderation, while Durov reportedly has nothing to hide.
Telegram provides users with end-to-end encryption for sending messages, making it difficult for the company and law enforcement to monitor discussions on the platform. Durov, a Russian-born individual holding multiple citizenships including French and Emirati, founded Telegram a decade ago. The encrypted messaging application has seen exponential growth since its inception, with reported user numbers surpassing 9.5 billion.
In recent months, Telegram has become a preferred destination for cryptocurrency click-to-earn games, with the integration of the TON blockchain playing a crucial role in this growth. Following Durov’s arrest last Saturday, the Toncoin (TON) token plummeted by over 20%.
Forbes estimates Durov’s fortune at $15.5 billion. In April, Durov mentioned that some governments had tried to pressure him, emphasizing the app’s neutrality as a platform rather than a “geopolitical player.”
In 2014, Durov left Russia after refusing to share user data of the social media website VKontakte, which he founded in 2006, specifically related to Ukrainian users.