After the arrest of Telegram CEO and co-founder Pavel Durov in France over the weekend, his detention has been extended for up to four days while a judge decides whether he should face criminal charges.
“The detention of Durov, 39, was extended beyond Sunday night by the investigating magistrate who is handling the case,” Le Monde reported. This period can last up to 96 hours, after which the judge can decide to either free him or press charges.
Telegram is accused of failing to cooperate with law enforcement over issues such as drug trafficking, child sexual content, and fraud. The company stated that it abides by EU laws, including the Digital Services Act, and insisted that its moderation practices are within industry standards and are constantly improving.
“Telegram’s CEO Pavel Durov has nothing to hide and travels frequently in Europe,” the company said. “It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform. Almost a billion users globally use Telegram as means of communication and as a source of vital information. We’re awaiting a prompt resolution of this situation.”
Durov’s arrest warrant was issued by “France’s OFMIN, an office tasked with preventing violence against minors,” Le Monde reported. The warrant relates to a preliminary investigation into alleged offenses such as fraud, drug trafficking, cyberbullying, organized crime, and promotion of terrorism.
Reuters quoted a police spokesman saying that Durov is under investigation for failing to cooperate with national cyber crime and fraud offices over issues related to cyber and financial crimes on Telegram. The New York Times reported that the Paris prosecutor said the arrest is part of an investigation opened on July 8 against an unnamed person on charges including complicity in the distribution of child pornography and selling of drugs, money laundering, and refusal to cooperate with law enforcement.