Telegram CEO charged in French criminal investigation

French prosecutors will release Durov under judicial supervision on a €5 million bail, but he won’t be allowed to leave France. As noted by Le Monde, Durov also faces charges of refusing to comply with authorities and complicity in the criminal distribution of CSAM.

Durov was arrested as he deplaned in Paris on a warrant issued by France’s OFMIN agency that’s tasked with preventing violence against minors. An agency official cited Telegram’s “lack of moderation and cooperation” for the investigation. The judge ordered Durov to be released from police custody Wednesday morning prior to being brought to court for his “first appearance and a possible indictment,” according to a Paris prosecutor’s office statement reported by The Associated Press.

Telegram said in a statement on Sunday that Durov has “nothing to hide” and called the claim that the platform is responsible for its users’ abuse of it “absurd.” The platform serves as a major information source, particularly in countries like Russia, where unfiltered news can be otherwise hard to come by. But it’s also widely known as a home base for terrorists and other bad actors.

Durov and his platform are known for being extremely hands-off when it comes to moderation, typically only doing so when compelled to do so by outside forces, like government regulators.