Telegram founder Pavel Durov was indicted by French prosecutors on Wednesday for allegedly illegally using the platform.
He faces six charges: Remaining French territory, Politico ReportedHe was arrested at Paris' Le Bourget airport and has been in domestic custody since Saturday.
Durov's bail has been set at 5 million euros. Or $5.56 million, CNN ReportedAdditionally, Durov must report to a French police station twice a week, according to CNN.
🚨BREAKING: France has formally indicted Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov. He has been placed under judicial supervision, banned from leaving French territory and ordered to post €5 million bail. pic.twitter.com/AbLxwKEtpW
— The Calvin Coolidge Project (@TheCalvinCooli1) August 28, 2024
Prosecutors told CNN that Durov had been sent to a Paris court for questioning after being released from French police custody. (Related: Report: Telegram founder Pavel Durov arrested at French airport)
The Paris Court of Justice in France on Monday announced 12 charges against Durov relating to Telegram's moderation policies. press releaseThe document listed allegations that Telegram engaged in illegal activities, including distributing child pornography and “organized fraud.”
He is also charged with refusing to cooperate with authorities.
BREAKING: 12 charges announced against Telegram CEO Pavel Durov: pic.twitter.com/b9wACVF0Aw
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Durov's arrest Concerns On the issue of freedom of expression and the right to privacy, George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley warned of potential threats to free speech in an interview with Fox News' Ainsley Earhardt on Monday.
Turley said the move was “part of a global effort to control speech” and claimed Durov was being investigated for “the misconduct of others using his site,” which he likened to the arrest of AT&T's CEO for phone rioting.
Telegram's platform has hundreds of millions of user Durov fled Russia in 2014 after refusing to hand over VKontakte user data to the Russian government, Reuters reported. Reported.
