Telegram CEO Pavel Durov charged for allowing alleged criminal activity on app, and banned from leaving France

TELEGRAM CEO Pavel Durov has been charged for allowing alleged criminal activity on app.

French judges have issued preliminary charges alleging the Telegram chief executive allowed criminal activity on his messaging app and he has been banned from leaving France.

AP

It has been alleged Durov’s platform is being used for child sexual abuse material and drug trafficking[/caption]

Getty

Durov was detained on Saturday at Le Bourget airport outside Paris[/caption]

The Russian-born CEO, who became a French citizen in 2021, was detained on Saturday at Le Bourget airport outside Paris.

It comes after a judicial inquiry opened last month involving 12 alleged criminal violations.

He was released earlier Wednesday after four days of questioning.

It has been alleged Durov’s platform is being used for child sexual abuse material and drug trafficking, and that Telegram refused to share information or documents with investigators when required by law.

Telegram has insisted it abides by EU laws and its moderation is “within industry standards and constantly improving”.

Its statement added: “It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner is responsible for abuse of that platform.”

If convicted Durov could spend up to 20 years in jail for his “failure to stop terrorism” on the app.