The CEO of social media app Telegram has been released from government custody in France.
Pavel Durov, who was released by French police on Wednesday, is scheduled to appear in court in the coming days.
“A Paris investigating magistrate will decide whether to press charges against Durov, and the judiciary would then rule on whether he will be remanded in custody or allowed to go free, possibly under judicial control with restrictions on his movements,” reports France 24.
French authorities have accused Telegram of being used for criminal activity, including fraud, child sexual content, and drug trafficking. Authorities have accused Durov of failing to restrict extremist content and withholding crucial information from investigators among other charges. The platform’s founder, who was born in Russia and is a citizen of both the United Arab Emirates and France, was taken into custody on Aug. 24 after his private plane landed at Le Bourget Airport.
France had until Wednesday to charge him or else the government was obligated to release the 39-year-old billionaire. Although French media had initially reported the investigation into Telegram began on July 8, new reports indicate authorities had initially charged Durov months earlier.
According to POLITICO:Warrants for Pavel and his brother Nikolai, the platform’s co-founder, were issued on March 25 over charges including “complicity in possessing, distributing, offering or making available pornographic images of minors, in an organized group.”
… The warrants were issued after an undercover investigation into Telegram led by the cybercrime branch of the Paris prosecutor's office, during which a suspect discussed luring underaged girls into sending "self-produced child pornography," and then threatening to release it on social media.
Telegram has denied the allegation levied by the French government.
“It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform,” said Telegram in a statement, per The Hill. “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. Telegram is with you all.”
More than 900 million people worldwide use Telegram.
The United Arab Emirates requested consular access to Durov on Monday.
"The UAE is closely following the case of its citizen Pavel Durov… emphasizing that the UAE has submitted a request to the Government of the French Republic to provide him with all the necessary consular services in an urgent manner," the nation’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs … stressed that prioritizing the welfare of UAE citizens, safeguarding their interests, and providing them with all aspects of support is a key priority for the UAE.”
