Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of the messaging app Telegram, was formally placed under investigation in France on Thursday following four days in police custody. The investigation encompasses a broad spectrum of criminal charges, including allegations of complicity in storing and distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM), facilitating drug trafficking, and enabling organized fraud and other illegal activities.
Durov was released from custody with several conditions. He is required to stay within French territory throughout the investigation and has been granted bail set at €5 million (approximately $5.6 million). Additionally, he must report to a police station twice a week.
The Paris criminal court, which is overseeing the case, revealed the charges against Durov on Tuesday. The charges stem from his arrest on August 24, shortly after he arrived at France’s Le Bourget Airport on his private jet.
The core accusations against Durov include running a company that is allegedly involved in serious criminal activities. The charges suggest that Telegram has been used for storing and distributing CSAM, facilitating drug trafficking, and supporting various forms of fraud and illegal transactions. There are also allegations related to the registration of Telegram’s cryptographic features and other criminal complaints.
Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau confirmed the charges in a statement, noting that the investigation is progressing. Being placed under formal investigation means that Durov is officially suspected of these crimes. In the French legal system, this status is a procedural requirement for advancing a case to trial but does not guarantee that a trial will occur. If the evidence is deemed insufficient, the case could be dropped before reaching court. Nonetheless, formal investigation indicates a substantial reason to continue the probe.
In her statement, Beccuau explained that Telegram “appears in multiple cases involving various offenses (child pornography, trafficking, online hate speech).” She elaborated that the cybercrime section (J3) of the organized crime national court (JUNALCO) within the Paris public prosecutor’s office had been alerted to Telegram’s alleged failure to comply with judicial requests, particularly concerning child pornography and other crimes. This non-compliance led JUNALCO to investigate the possible criminal responsibility of Telegram’s executives.
The preliminary investigation was initiated in February 2024, with the National Office for Minors (OFMIN) initially overseeing the probe. It was later taken over by the Centre for the Fight against Cybercrime (C3N) and the Anti-Fraud National Office (ONAF).
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According to Politico, the investigation began with a separate probe into child sexual abuse. Documents reviewed by Politico revealed that a suspect had used Telegram to coerce underage girls into producing and sharing CSAM, which they then threatened to distribute on social media. French authorities reportedly requested Telegram’s assistance in identifying the suspect, but the company did not respond, prompting a preliminary investigation into Telegram’s lack of cooperation.
Telegram has not provided a comment on Durov’s arrest or the charges against him.
The investigation into Telegram’s practices has expanded beyond the initial CSAM concerns. The messaging app, which boasts 950 million monthly active users, has been criticized for its minimal content moderation tools and processes. Durov claimed in an interview with Tucker Carlson that only 30 engineers manage the app, which has contributed to accusations that Telegram’s moderation policies—or lack thereof—facilitate the distribution of illegal content.
David-Olivier Kaminski, Durov’s lawyer, criticized the notion that the head of a social platform could be held responsible for crimes not directly linked to him. “It is completely absurd to claim that the head of a social platform could be responsible for criminal acts that don’t involve him, either directly or indirectly,” Kaminski said, as reported by Le Monde.
However, this defense does not address why Telegram initially ignored the law enforcement request. Additionally, Durov faces charges related to money laundering, which could be connected to Telegram’s cryptocurrency features and alleged failures to adhere to “Know Your Customer” regulations.
Telegram’s digital currency, known as Stars, allows users to purchase digital content and can be converted into Toncoin, a cryptocurrency backed by Telegram. Toncoin can be traded on various exchanges and transferred to bank accounts, raising further concerns about financial regulations.
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Given the complexity and scope of the case, the investigation is expected to last several months or even over a year. Durov will be required to remain in France throughout this period.
