A French judicial authority seeks to interrogate the creator of Telegram.
Pavel Durov, the creator of Telegram, faces a potential probe in court following his detention in France. The judge summoned Durov to the courtroom for inquiries, as per reports from the German Press Agency sourced from the Paris prosecutor's office.
The inquisition could trigger further investigations, potentially culminating in a legal trial if investigators collect sufficient proof against Durov. Conversely, they might discontinue the investigation if evidence turns out to be insufficient.
Preliminary investigations against Durov have been going on for some time, according to the prosecutor's office. The allegations include aiding drug trafficking, money laundering, deceitful practices, and various offenses connected to child exploitation by failing to intervene on Telegram and insufficiently cooperating with authorities. Additionally, his reluctance to comply with lawfully permissible surveillance measures is drawing flak.
Durov had been on the run, and the authorities apprehended him at a Paris-adjacent airport on Saturday night.
Telegram refuted the accusations, asserting adherence to all legal stipulations. Durov himself claimed "no secrets." It's "preposterous," according to Telegram, to blame a platform or its proprietor for wrongdoings committed by third parties using the service.
Telegram has long been under fire for allegedly not effectively dealing with hate speech and other unlawful activities. The company maintains that it aligns with "standard industry practices."
The Telegram founder, Pavel Durov, might find himself facing more scrutiny if investigators find substantial evidence against him. Despite Telegram's denial of the accusations, Durov's history of not fully cooperating with law enforcement could add to his legal troubles.
