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What simply occurred? Pavel Durov, the CEO of messaging app Telegram, has been charged by French authorities over allegations he allowed felony exercise on the app. Durov was arrested in France on Saturday. He’s barred from leaving the nation and solely prevented being held in custody by paying a 5 million euro ($5.56 million) bail. Durov should additionally report back to a police station twice every week.
Durov was arrested by the Air Transport Gendarmerie (GTA) on the tarmac of Le Bourget airport round 8 p.m. on Saturday, shortly after stepping off his personal jet.
The Russian-born billionaire, who grew to become a French citizen in 2021, was arrested on the authorization of the OFMIN (Workplace to Fight Violence In opposition to Minors). His expenses embrace working a platform that facilitates the unfold of sexual pictures of kids and is utilized by organized crime for drug trafficking and fraud. It is also claimed that Telegram refused to cooperate with investigators when requested to share paperwork and data.
French authorities stated earlier this week that Durov’s arrest was a part of an investigation into Telegram’s failure to reasonable alleged felony exercise on the app.
In France, preliminary expenses in opposition to a person imply that whereas authorities strongly imagine against the law has been dedicated, extra time is allowed for additional investigation.
“Telegram’s CEO, Pavel Durov, has nothing to cover and travels continuously in Europe,” Telegram stated in a press release. “It’s absurd to assert {that a} platform, or its proprietor, are liable for abuse of that platform.”
“Nearly a billion customers globally use Telegram as technique of communication and as a supply of significant info. We’re awaiting a immediate decision of this case. Telegram is with you all.”
Telegram stated in February that it has 41 million customers within the EU, however some imagine it’s purposely reducing this quantity to keep away from being classed as a “gatekeeper” below the EU’s Digital Companies Act (DSA). These providers with 45 million month-to-month lively customers – resembling Alphabet, Meta, and Microsoft – fall into this class, and are topic to tighter EU rules. Telegram was supposed to supply up to date person figures this month, but it surely solely declared that its common variety of month-to-month lively customers was “considerably fewer” than 45 million.
Durov’s arrest is inflicting outcry in Russia, with some authorities officers claiming the transfer was politically motivated.
The Russian embassy in France issued a press release on Fb that learn: “Following the media stories concerning the detention of P Durov, the French authorities had been instantly requested to make clear the explanations for the detention and to supply for the safety of Mr Durov’s rights and facilitate consular entry.”
“As of right this moment, the French authorities are, at the moment, not co-operating on this concern.”
Russia says the arrest illustrates the West’s double requirements with regards to freedom of speech.
Russia ordered a ban on Telegram in 2018, every week after state communications regulator Roskomnadzor filed a lawsuit geared toward limiting entry to the app inside the nation. The ban was lifted in 2020 after Russia failed in its efforts to dam Telegram.
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