Image credit: The Byteline

Pavel Durov, the billionaire CEO and founder of Telegram, has appeared in a Paris courtroom for formal questioning as part of a criminal investigation into allegations that the platform has facilitated illegal activities.

Durov, accompanied by attorneys David-Olivier Kaminski and Christophe Ingrain, declined to comment extensively but expressed confidence in the French judicial system.

Durov was arrested in August at Paris’ Le Bourget airport and detained for four days before being charged with offenses related to organized crime. French prosecutors allege that Telegram failed to implement adequate measures to prevent the distribution of illegal content and criminal activities on its platform.

Following his release, Durov was placed under judicial supervision, including a €5 million bail, mandatory twice-weekly check-ins at a police station, and a ban on leaving France.

Attorney Kaminski dismissed the charges as “totally absurd,” stating that Telegram operates in full compliance with European digital regulations.

Since Durov’s arrest, Telegram has reportedly increased its cooperation with law enforcement, signaling a significant policy shift. Although Telegram has shared user data like IP addresses and phone numbers for criminal investigations since 2018, Durov asserted that the platform remains committed to privacy and encrypted messaging. He described the updated approach as a continuation of existing policies rather than a major change.

Despite these reassurances, Telegram’s decision to share user data has sparked widespread debate, particularly given its reputation for prioritizing user privacy.

The arrest had immediate financial repercussions for Toncoin (TON), a cryptocurrency associated with Telegram, which saw its value drop by 30% after the news broke. While TON has since started to recover, trading close to $7, the incident raised concerns about the broader impact on Telegram’s ecosystem.

Russian officials have criticized the legal actions against Durov, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov labeling them as politically motivated. Moscow has warned France against perceived attempts to “intimidate” Durov and emphasized the need for strong evidence to support the accusations.

In contrast, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that the investigation is purely judicial, reaffirming France’s dedication to freedom of expression and communication.

As Telegram continues its rapid growth, reaching over 700 million active users globally, Durov acknowledged the challenges of scaling responsibly. He admitted that the platform’s expansion has made it more susceptible to misuse by criminals, but he maintains that holding him personally accountable for user-generated content is “ill-advised.”

The outcome of this high-profile investigation will not only shape the future of Telegram’s operations in Europe but also set a precedent for how governments address the balance between privacy and public safety in the digital age.

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