Pavel Durov, the founder of the social media app Telegram, was released from police custody in France on Wednesday and now faces possible charges after being transferred to a court for questioning.
This follows his arrest at Parisâs Bourget Airport over the weekend, where he was detained under a warrant related to allegations concerning the platformâs âinadequate content moderation.â
Probe Into Telegram âLinks To Fraudâ
According to reports from CNN, Durov exited the anti-fraud office outside Paris in a police vehicle on Wednesday afternoon. The Paris prosecutorâs office confirmed that he would undergo âinitial questioning and possible indictmentâ in Franceâs capital.
The 39-year-old billionaire was detained on Saturday amid a probe into various serious accusations, including claims that Telegram facilitated criminal activities such as fraud, drug trafficking, and the dissemination of child pornography.Â
The platform has also been criticized for its alleged association with terrorist groups and far-right extremists, mainly due to its âlack of content moderation.â
Russian government spokesman Dmitry Peskov sought to reassure users regarding the appâs future, urging them not to delete sensitive messages amid fears of increased scrutiny.
French President Emmanuel Macron intervened in the matter, asserting that the decision to pursue charges against Durov was âin no way political.â
âItâs Either Secure Or Not Secureâ
Durov, who was born in the Soviet Union in 1984, has often been referred to as the âMark Zuckerberg of Russia.â After leaving Russia in 2014, he established his residence in Dubai, where Telegramâs headquarters is located, while also holding French citizenship.Â
According to the report, while the messaging app has been praised by free speech advocates for enabling private communication in ârestrictive regimes,â critics argue that its allegedly unregulated environment has become a refuge for those coordinating illicit activities.Â
Durov himself acknowledged this in a 2016 CNN interview, stating, âYou cannot make it safe against criminals and open for governments. Itâs either secure or not secure.â
At the time of writing, the token developed by messaging app Toncoin (TON) is trading at $5.6, up more than 4% on Wednesdayâs news of Durovâs release.
Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com
Source: NewsBTC.com
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