- Pavel Durov was arrested in Paris in August 2024 over criminal activities on Telegram.
- French court allowed Durov to return to Dubai amid an ongoing investigation into Telegram.
- Durov’s departure from France follows allegations of failing to curb extremist content.
Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, has officially returned to Dubai after obtaining approval from French authorities. The French authorities conducted multiple months of investigation into Durov, starting with his airport arrest at Le Bourget in August 2024. Durov’s departure signals a pivotal change in his criminal investigations which are linked to illegal activities supposedly enabled through Telegram.
The court proceedings target Telegram for allegedly enabling unlawful behavior through its platform including distributing extremist and terrorist material. Durov was arrested on accusations that he failed to stop unlawful activities through Telegram until Russian authorities released him on bail worth €5 million. Although investigation proceedings are still ongoing, Durov was allowed to leave France, leaving the legal matter unresolved.
French Investigation and Durov’s Arrest
In August 2024, French prosecutors accused Durov of operating a platform that enabled illegal activities. The charges, which were announced later that month, suggested that Telegram was not adequately moderating content that could be linked to terrorism and extremism. Durov’s arrest at Le Bourget airport was the first of its kind for a social media platform founder, setting a significant precedent for the legal scrutiny faced by tech executives.
After his arrest, Durov faced questioning, followed by formal charges. The French court required him to remain in the country while the investigation continued, though he was allowed to post bail. At the time, French authorities suggested Durov could face up to ten years in prison and a hefty fine of €500,000. Despite these severe charges, the Telegram CEO continued to assert that the platform met all legal obligations related to moderation and combating crime.
Related: All You Need To Know About TON Blockchain
Durov’s Departure and Reactions
Durov’s recent departure from France occurred with the court’s consent, marking the end of his enforced stay in the country. Sources indicate that the French court granted Durov permission to leave for several weeks, allowing him to travel to Dubai. The entrepreneur expressed relief upon returning to his residence in Dubai, acknowledging the efforts of his legal team and the French investigative judges who permitted his departure.
Durov’s departure was also clearly reflected in the cryptocurrency market, which was especially connected to Telegram and its native currency – Toncoin. After the announcement, Toncoin’s price increase of more than 18% indicates investor confidence in the TON platform’s stability and performance even with legal issues.
This advancement in communication technology has unleashed debates regarding difficulties tech firms confront when regulating content and working with police authorities. With more than 900 million active users Telegram continues to be monitored by regulators because of its anti-privacy approach and weak content moderation systems. In his stance, Durov emphasized that Telegram implements anti-illicit measures that surpass the requirements set by law.
