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Article

26 Aug 2024

Author:
Layli Foroudi and Tassilo Hummel, Reuters,
Author:
Le Monde avec AFP (France)

France: Telegram CEO arrested over probe into child sexual abuse material, drug trafficking & fraudulent transactions on the platform

"Telegram CEO arrested over probe into child porn, drug trafficking on app", 26 August 2024

Pavel Durov, the Russian-born founder of messaging app Telegram, was arrested in France as part of an investigation into crimes related to child pornography, drug trafficking and fraudulent transactions on the platform...

French President Emmanuel Macron, making the first official confirmation of Durov's arrest since he was detained at Le Bourget airport outside Paris on Saturday evening, said there was no political motive in the arrest, despite many false comments online. He added that France remains deeply committed to lawful free speech.

In a subsequent statement, Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said Durov was arrested as part of a probe into an unnamed person launched by the office's cybercrime unit...

The investigation is over suspected complicity in various crimes including running an online platform that allows illicit transactions, child pornography, drug trafficking and fraud, as well as the refusal to communicate information to authorities, money laundering and providing cryptographic services to criminals, the statement said.

Durov can be held until Wednesday, it added.

Reuters was unable to reach any lawyer representing Durov.

Durov's arrest prompted criticism from X owner Elon Musk who said that free speech in Europe was under attack, and calls from Moscow for French authorities to accord Durov his rights.

Durov said in April some governments had sought to pressure him, but the app should remain a neutral platform and not a "player in geopolitics".

Telegram gave no details of the arrest but said the Dubai-based company abided by European Union laws and its moderation was "within industry standards and constantly improving".

"Telegram's CEO Pavel Durov has nothing to hide and travels frequently in Europe,"

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