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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 legal exercise on the app. Durov was arrested in France on Saturday. He’s barred from leaving the nation and solely averted being held in custody by paying a 5 million euro ($5.56 million) bail. Durov should additionally report back to a police station twice per 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 non-public jet.
The Russian-born billionaire, who turned a French citizen in 2021, was arrested on the authorization of the OFMIN (Workplace to Fight Violence Towards Minors). His fees embody working a platform that facilitates the unfold of sexual photos of youngsters 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 knowledge.
French authorities stated earlier this week that Durov’s arrest was a part of an investigation into Telegram’s failure to reasonable alleged legal exercise on the app.
In France, preliminary fees towards a person imply that whereas authorities strongly consider a criminal offense has been dedicated, extra time is allowed for additional investigation.
“Telegram’s CEO, Pavel Durov, has nothing to cover and travels regularly in Europe,” Telegram stated in a press release. “It’s absurd to assert {that a} platform, or its proprietor, are chargeable for abuse of that platform.”
“Virtually a billion customers globally use Telegram as technique of communication and as a supply of important data. We’re awaiting a immediate decision of this example. Telegram is with you all.”
Telegram stated in February that it has 41 million customers within the EU, however some consider it’s purposely reducing this quantity to keep away from being classed as a “gatekeeper” underneath the EU’s Digital Companies Act (DSA). These companies with 45 million month-to-month lively customers – equivalent to Alphabet, Meta, and Microsoft – fall into this class, and are topic to tighter EU rules. Telegram was supposed to offer up to date consumer figures this month, nevertheless it 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 studies in regards to the detention of P Durov, the French authorities had been instantly requested to make clear the explanations for the detention and to offer for the safety of Mr Durov’s rights and facilitate consular entry.”
“As of at this time, the French authorities are, at the moment, not co-operating on this situation.”
Russia says the arrest illustrates the West’s double requirements on the subject of freedom of speech.
Russia ordered a ban on Telegram in 2018, per week after state communications regulator Roskomnadzor filed a lawsuit aimed toward limiting entry to the app throughout the nation. The ban was lifted in 2020 after Russia failed in its efforts to dam Telegram.
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