Telegram CEO Pavel Durov Charged in France

Pavel Durov, the CEO of Telegram, has been charged in France with enabling criminal activity on the messaging app, including complicity in facilitating illicit transactions. Durov was arrested upon arriving in Paris and is currently under judicial supervision, prohibited from leaving the country, and required to report to police twice a week, in addition to paying a €5 million bail. French authorities have criticized Telegram for its lack of cooperation in investigations concerning child exploitation and other serious crimes. Durov's arrest has sparked outrage in Russia, with claims it threatens free speech, while French officials maintain the judicial actions are not politically motivated. Telegram has countered accusations of wrongdoing, asserting compliance with EU laws and emphasizing the difficulty in moderating user behavior on a large platform. The case represents a rare instance of holding a tech executive accountable for user actions, raising significant questions about platform responsibility.