Pavel Durov accused of crimes of international scale

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French authorities have brought charges of drug trafficking and exploitation of children.

Telegram founder Pavel Durov was detained at Paris' Le Bourget airport, French media reported. The incident occurred on the evening of August 24, when the businessman's private jet arrived in Paris from Azerbaijan. Together with 39-year-old Durov, his bodyguard and an unnamed woman were on board.

According to the TF1 TV channel, Durov was included in the list of wanted persons in France (Fichier des Personnes Recherchées, FPR). The detention took place on the basis of a warrant issued by the French judicial police as part of a preliminary investigation.

The French authorities charge Durov with complicity in drug trafficking, crimes against children and fraud related to the lack of moderation of content in the Telegram messenger. It is reported that after the arrest, Durov was taken into custody, and it is expected that he will be arrested. French law enforcement agencies accuse him of committing numerous offenses on the Telegram platform, and measures are not being taken to prevent them.

According to a TF1 source, Durov's arrest warrant was only valid in France. According to the insider, the businessman knew that he was "persona non grata" in this country. "Today he made a mistake. The reasons for this are unknown to us," the source said.

Durov, who has been repeatedly criticized for not censoring Telegram enough, is now also facing increased scrutiny from authorities in other countries, including Russia, for using the messaging app to coordinate illegal activities and spread extremist content.

Against the backdrop of these events, the Telegram (TON) cryptocurrency, used for transactions within the messenger, lost more than 10% in price.

Source

 

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Telegram team commented on the arrest of Pavel Durov​

The Telegram messenger team commented on the arrest of Pavel Durov for the first time. In a short statement, it is noted that the company "complies with EU laws" and "will wait for the situation to be resolved as soon as possible."

Here is what the company's representatives write:

• Telegram complies with EU laws, including the Digital Services Act. The moderation of the messenger meets industry standards and is constantly being improved.
• Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has nothing to hide and often travels around Europe.
• It is absurd to claim that the platform or its owner is responsible for abusing this platform.
• Almost a billion users around the world use Telegram as a means of communication and as a source of important information.
• We are waiting for this situation to be resolved as soon as possible. Telegram stays with you.

Earlier it was reported that the Paris prosecutor's office, to which the case of the detained founder of Telegram Pavel Durov was transferred, plans to make a statement about his detention to the press on August 26. The French prosecutor's office did not specify to the media the reasons for Durov's detention and his current status as part of the current investigation.

According to media reports, citing the Paris court, Pavel Durov is still in the migration prison at Le Bourget airport. He will be able to be held there for four days, during which time a decision must be made to consider his case.

 

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The Case of Pavel Durov: At the Crossroads of Technology, Politics and Human Rights
How the arrest of the founder of Telegram became a symbol of the confrontation between states and freedom.

The arrest of Pavel Durov, the founder of the Telegram messenger, in France in August 2024 was the catalyst for a global discussion about the role of technology companies in the modern world. This event highlighted a number of fundamental problems affecting not only the IT industry, but also the foundations of interaction between states, business and citizens in the digital era.

Technological Sovereignty vs Global Platforms
The history of Durov's confrontation with various states began long before his arrest in France. Back in 2018, his refusal to provide the Russian FSB with Telegram's encryption keys marked the beginning of a long-term conflict between global IT platforms and national governments. This conflict goes far beyond a simple technological dispute, affecting issues of national sovereignty in the digital space.

Telegram, positioning itself as a defender of user privacy, has actually challenged the traditional understanding of state borders and jurisdictions. In a world where information has become a key resource, control over the channels of its distribution has become the most important tool of state policy. However, global tech companies operating outside of traditional geographical boundaries have created a new reality in which national governments are often powerless.

Durov's arrest can be seen as an attempt by states to regain control of the digital space. However, the move also demonstrates the limitations of traditional methods of pressure on technology companies in a globalized world.

Privacy as a new form of freedom
At the heart of the conflict between Durov and government agencies is the fundamental question of the right to privacy in the digital age. Telegram, with its emphasis on encryption and protecting user data, has become a symbol of the fight for digital freedoms.

This struggle is of particular importance in the context of growing authoritarianism and increased state surveillance in many countries around the world. For millions of users, especially in regions with limited freedom of speech, high-security messengers have become not just a means of communication, but also a tool for preserving personal and political freedom.

However, the pursuit of absolute privacy faces real security challenges. States argue the need for access to encrypted messages by the fight against terrorism, organized crime and the protection of children. This creates a complex ethical dilemma: how to balance the right to privacy with ensuring public safety?

The Responsibility of Platforms in the New Digital Reality
Durov's case also raises questions about the limits of technology platforms' responsibility for the actions of their users. Traditionally, IT companies have positioned themselves as neutral intermediaries that provide infrastructure for information exchange. However, with the growing influence of social networks and instant messengers on social processes, this position is becoming less and less stable.

Accusations that Telegram is facilitating illegal activities pose a difficult question for the industry: To what extent should platforms control content and user interactions? Excessive control can lead to censorship and violation of user rights, while its absence poses risks to public safety.

This issue is especially relevant in light of the growing influence of social media on political processes, the spread of disinformation and the radicalization of certain groups of the population. Tech companies find themselves in a difficult position, balancing between the requirements of the authorities, the expectations of users and their own ethical principles.

Global Implications and the Future of Digital Communications
Durov's arrest and the ongoing pressure on Telegram could have far-reaching implications for the future of digital communications. This case could set a precedent for how technology companies and governments interact for years to come.

Possible scenarios include:

1. Increased government regulation of the IT sector, which could lead to the fragmentation of the Internet and the creation of national "digital borders."
2. The development of new technological solutions that further complicate control over digital communications, such as decentralized blockchain-based networks.
3. Formation of new international agreements and standards governing the activities of global IT platforms and the protection of user rights.

Conclusion
The case of Pavel Durov goes far beyond the fate of one person or even one company. It symbolizes the key challenges that society faces in the era of digital globalization: how to ensure a balance between national security and personal freedom, between technological progress and ethical norms, between global integration and the sovereignty of states.

The outcome of this confrontation could determine not only the future of digital communications, but also the nature of the relationship between citizens, corporations, and states in the 21st century. In this context, the Durov case becomes a litmus test for the resilience of democratic values and principles in the digital age.

 

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Law or Policy? Paris accuses Durov of serious crimes.
The charges against Durov put the platform at risk of closure.

The French authorities have brought serious charges against Pavel Durov, the founder and head of Telegram. These accusations were the result of an investigation launched on July 8, 2024 by the Cybercrime Unit of the Paris Public Prosecutor's Office.

Among the charges made:

1. Managing an online platform for conducting illegal transactions by an organized criminal group.
2. Refusal to provide, at the request of authorized bodies, information or documents necessary to carry out lawful interceptions.
3. Complicity in the possession of pornographic images involving minors.
4. Complicity in the distribution, offer or provision of pornographic images of minors.
5. Aiding and abetting the acquisition, transportation, possession, offer or transfer of drugs.
6. Aiding and abetting the offering, transmission or provision without lawful basis of tools, programs or data designed to interfere with the operation of an automated data processing system.
7. Complicity in fraud committed by an organized group.
8. Criminal conspiracy to commit a serious or less serious crime punishable by five years' imprisonment.
9. Laundering of money derived from organized crime.
10. Provision of cryptographic services to ensure confidentiality without a corresponding declaration.
11. Delivery of a crypto facility that does not perform solely the functions of authentication or integrity control, without prior declaration.
12. Import of a cryptographic device that does not perform only the functions of authentication or integrity control, without prior declaration.

According to the Paris prosecutor's office, Telegram does not provide the proper level of moderation and does not take measures to curb drug trafficking and the distribution of content involving children on the platform. Durov is also accused of refusing to provide the authorities with the requested data or documents necessary to conduct and use intercepts authorized by law. This position is due to Telegram's frequent refusals to cooperate with the authorities of various countries, including the refusal to transfer information about offenders.

It is reported that Durov may remain in custody until August 28, which is explained by the peculiarities of the procedure applied to crimes related to organized crime.

The incident attracted the attention of the French authorities at the highest level. French President Emmanuel Macron commented on the situation, refuting any suggestion that Durov's arrest was related to political pressure or any political decisions.

The nature of the events around Telegram calls into question the universality of its privacy policy. Questions about how the messenger will respond to requests from law enforcement agencies in different countries with different legal systems remain open. These accusations raise serious questions about Telegram's fate, its privacy policy, and its ability to comply with the laws of various countries.

 

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Telegram on the brink: Durov's arrest jeopardizes the future of the messenger
An investigation in France threatens to destroy Telegram's reputation.

The founder and CEO of the Telegram messenger, Pavel Durov, was detained in France on charges of involvement in illegal activities, including drug trafficking and the distribution of materials related to child sexual abuse. The detention took place on Saturday at Paris-Le Bourget airport after Durov's arrival from Azerbaijan.

The story of Telegram and its founder
Pavel Durov, one of the most famous IT entrepreneurs of our time, began his career with the creation of the social network VKontakte (VK) in 2006. At the time of the project's launch, Durov was only 21 years old and quickly became known as the "Russian Mark Zuckerberg." However, Durov's relations with the Russian authorities quickly deteriorated. In 2013, when protesters began using VKontakte to organize rallies against Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, the Kremlin demanded that Durov hand over the personal data of Ukrainian users. Durov refused, and this led to pressure from the authorities. As a result, he left the company, selling his share, and left Russia. Today, VKontakte is under the control of the state.

This experience prompted Durov to create Telegram, a platform that was supposed to be protected from government interference and provide a high level of confidentiality. Launched in 2013 and based in Dubai, Telegram quickly attracted millions of users due to its strong encryption and commitment to data protection.

New details of the criminal case
On August 26, the French prosecutor's office officially confirmed the detention of Pavel Durov. The department revealed the details of the criminal investigation, which has been conducted by the Department for Combating Cybercrime since July 8. The case was initiated under 12 articles of French law. While it is not yet clear whether Durov has been charged with all or only some of them, the maximum penalties for violations of each of them are very serious.

Among the articles under investigation:

• Complicity in the administration of an online platform to facilitate illegal transactions as part of an organized group. The punishment is up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to 500 thousand euros. It is under this article that cases related to the administration of telegram channels with phishing links and pornographic content are already being investigated.
• Refusal to provide information at the request of authorized bodies. The maximum punishment is two years in prison and a fine of up to 30 thousand euros.
• Complicity in the storage and distribution of images of minors of a pornographic nature. The punishment is up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to 500 thousand euros.
• Complicity in the distribution of drugs. The maximum penalty is up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to 7.5 million euros.
• Complicity in the distribution of hacker programs. The punishment is up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to 500 thousand euros.
• Complicity in fraud committed by an organized group. The maximum penalty is up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to one million euros.
• Laundering of money derived from the activities of an organized criminal group. The punishment is up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to 750 thousand euros.
• Illegal provision of cryptographic services and cryptography tools. The punishment is up to two years in prison and a fine of up to 30 thousand euros.

Reaction to the arrest and possible consequences
Durov's arrest caused a wide resonance around the world. Telegram said that the platform complies with EU laws, and content moderation meets industry standards and is constantly improving. The company called the accusations against Durov absurd and stressed that the platform was not responsible for the actions of users.

This case has once again drawn attention to the issues of privacy, freedom of speech and the responsibility of digital platforms. In Russia, government officials have refrained from commenting for further developments, but there have been allegations that the West is persecuting Durov for political reasons.

Western countries continue to discuss the need to tighten control over digital platforms used for criminal activities. The question of whether Durov will be able to defend his principles in the face of growing pressure remains open.

 

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According to Politico, France has issued an arrest warrant for Nikolai Durov, the developer and brother of the head of Telegram, for refusing to cooperate with the French police in a case against an unknown person who was engaged in the distribution of child pornography. Also mentioned in this case is Ilya Perekopsky, Durov's partner and vice president of Telegram. The media explained that at the time of Durov's arrest, Perekopsky could take over the management of the company. whether a warrant had been issued for his arrest.

According to Politico, referring to the case materials, Telegram did not help the French authorities in any way and did not cooperate with them after numerous requests. After that, a "secret investigation" was launched against Durov and his brother.

It is believed that it is Pavel Durov's brother Nikolai who is responsible for the entire technical part of the initial VK and the Telegram messenger project. Nikolay Durov is called a mathematical genius in the media, who is responsible for the development of the entire technical side of the messenger and his brother's cryptocurrency projects.

Pavel Durov said that his brother learned to read at the age of three, at the age of eight he already solved cubic equations, and began to program at the age of 10. In 2007, he received a PhD in mathematics in Germany and after that he was engaged in the development of VKontakte. Forbes called Nikolai Durov one of the most influential people in the IT industry. In an interview, Pavel Durov said that it was his brother who came up with the encryption technology, design and emblem of the Telegram messenger.

• Source: https://www.politico.eu/article/exc...-durov-wanted-france-authorities-pavel-durov/

 

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Pavel Durov under investigation: what is known at the moment?
The founder of the messenger left the court in Paris after being charged.

The co-founder of the Telegram messenger, Pavel Durov, left the courthouse in Paris after facing a number of charges related to the management of the messenger.

Preventive measures
The investigating judge in charge of the case decided to apply a preventive measure to Durov in the form of judicial supervision, which includes an obligation to post bail in the amount of 5 million euros. In addition, he is ordered to report to the police station twice a week, and is also prohibited from leaving the territory of France.

Charges
A court in Paris has charged the co-founder of Telegram with six of the previously announced 12 counts. Among the charges: "complicity in illegal transactions within the framework of organized criminal activities in the administration of an online platform." The maximum punishment for these actions can reach 10 years in prison and a fine of 500 thousand euros.

In addition, Durov is accused of "refusing to provide authorized bodies with information or documents necessary for the commission and use of legally permitted interceptions", "complicity in the distribution of pornography involving minors", "drug trafficking", "transfer, provision for use without legal grounds of a program or data intended or adapted to undermine or access the operation of an automated data processing system", and "fraud as part of an organized group."

Other charges include "helping to evade responsibility for crimes as part of an organized group," "providing a cryptography tool without prior declaration," and "supplying and importing a cryptographic tool that does not provide only authentication or integrity control functions without prior declaration."

Case in Switzerland
In Switzerland, an investigation is also underway against Durov on the basis of a statement by Irina Bolgar, who claims that the entrepreneur used physical violence against their common child. This application was filed with the Geneva court in March 2023, and it states that Durov allegedly used physical violence against one of their three joint children.

In addition, Bolgar filed a civil lawsuit for child custody, accusing Durov of refusing to meet with the children since September 2022 and demanding alimony payments of 150 thousand euros per month. Bolgar's lawyer confirmed her participation in the trial and announced the start of a new lawsuit regarding alimony in June 2024.

Search for Nikolai Durov
Pavel Durov's brother, Nikolai Durov, is also wanted in France. According to the European edition of Politico, citing court documents, arrest warrants for both brothers were issued on March 25. The charges include participating in the possession, distribution or provision of access to child pornography as part of an organized group.

The arrest warrants were issued after Telegram failed to provide information about the identity of a user accused of creating and distributing child pornography. The documents also indicate that Telegram was used by criminal groups for illegal activities.

Investigation in the EU
The Telegram app has attracted the attention of the European Union due to its failure to comply with the requirements to provide updated data on the number of users in the EU, which could lead to its recognition as a "very large online platform" with additional obligations. Telegram said it had "significantly less than 45 million monthly active users in the EU" but did not provide accurate data as required by the EU Digital Services Act (DSA). The European Commission is currently conducting an independent investigation to determine the exact number of Telegram users in the region.

 

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Press release

On August 28, 2024, Pavel Durov was charged with all the crimes specified in the indictment:

Complicity in the administration of an online platform with the aim of committing an illegal transaction by an organized group (an offense punishable by a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of €500,000)

Refusal to provide, at the request of authorized bodies, information or documents necessary for the implementation and use of interceptions permitted by law complicity in crimes, in particular in the provision of a program or data intended for hacking the automated data processing system, distribution by an organized group of images of minors of the nature of child pornography, drug trafficking, fraud as part of organized group, criminal association for the purpose of committing crimes or offenses.

Laundering of crimes or offenses by an organized criminal group.

Provision of cryptology services aimed at providing confidentiality functions without
a declaration of compliance Provision and import of cryptology tools that do not perform exclusively authentication or integrity verification functions.

He was placed under judicial supervision, in particular with a requirement to post bail of 5 million euros, the obligation to appear at the police station twice a week and a ban on leaving French territory.

Telegram is an instant messaging app created in 2013 and appearing in several dossiers relating to various offenses (pedocrime, human trafficking, hate on the Internet). Telegram's almost complete lack of response to judicial requests was brought to the attention of the Cybercrime Unit (J3) of JUNALCO (National Jurisdiction for Combating Organized Crime under the Paris Public Prosecutor's Office), in particular OFMIN (National Directorate for Minors). They consulted with other French investigative services and prosecutors' offices, as well as with various partners within Eurojust, in particular the Belgian ones, and shared the same opinion. This is what prompted JUNALCO to launch an investigation into the possible criminal liability of the leaders of this messenger for committing these crimes.

The preliminary investigation began in February 2024 under the direction of the Paris Public Prosecutor's Office, and the initial investigations were coordinated by OFMIN.

An initial indictment dated July 8, 2024, opened a judicial investigation. The investigating judges entrusted the continuation of the investigations to C3 (the cybernetic unit of the National Gendarmerie) and the ONAF (National Anti-Fraud Customs Office)

to LOR BEKKAU, Public Prosecutor

 

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Panic on the darknet: Durov's arrest caused chaos in the cybercriminal world
The founder of the messenger is accused of facilitating criminal activities.

The arrest of Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, caused widespread unrest among users of underground forums and hacker communities. Despite the fact that Durov was released on bail, the fear of possible changes in Telegram's security policy excited cybercriminals and caused panic among their customers.

Discussions about the possible consequences of the arrest began to spread on forums and in closed groups. Cybercriminals have expressed fears that access to sensitive information could end up in the hands of authorities, prompting some users to temporarily suspend their activities or even delete archives containing stolen data, including bank accounts and credit card details.

Particular attention was drawn to the actions of hacktivists, who, as a sign of support for Durov, launched cyberattacks on French state resources. Hacker groups have launched a campaign with the hashtag #FreeDurov, urging other cybercriminals to join attacks on French websites. These attacks led to the temporary shutdown of several state portals, which only exacerbated tensions around the arrest.

Some cybercriminals have begun to consider alternative platforms for private communication, such as Tox and Jabber, fearing that Telegram may no longer provide the proper level of privacy. However, there has been no mass exodus from the platform yet, and many are only creating backup channels on other platforms.

At the same time, many hackers are expressing financial support for Telegram by investing in virtual goods recently introduced on the platform to support Durov and his company.

Technically, Telegram continues to function as usual. At the moment, there is no information about any technical measures taken by the French authorities to restrict the operation of the platform in connection with the investigation. It is worth noting that Telegram has a global infrastructure with data centers around the world, which ensures high fault tolerance of the service.

According to Telegram's official website, the company previously had offices in different cities, including Berlin, London, and Singapore. Currently, the headquarters are located in Dubai, although the company declares its readiness to relocate in the event of a change in local legislation.

In the short term, no significant changes in Telegram user activity are expected if the level of content moderation remains the same and there are no operational security issues.

The legal situation around Pavel Durov is likely to lead to lengthy legal proceedings. The key issue may be the balance between freedom of speech and the need to counter illegal activities on social media platforms.

It's important to note that content moderation and anti-illegal activity issues are common to all major social platforms. In the United States, this led to congressional hearings with the participation of executives of major technology companies. Many platforms have established procedures for interacting with law enforcement.

The French authorities' approach to bringing criminal charges against the head of a major platform is unconventional. It remains an open question whether this will lead to the changes that the French authorities are seeking.

 

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In 2017, France and the UAE hacked Pavel Durov's phone in a joint operation codenamed Purple Music, the Wall Street Journal reported the other day. The reason for this was concerns about the use of Telegram by ISIS supporters. According to the WSJ source, France has made long-term efforts to compromise the messenger itself.

The news about the possible hacking of Durov's phone is a good reason to recall the history of the work of the French special services in cyberspace. There is less information on this topic than about the United States and even about the UAE (see Project Raven), although France has long been interested in the possibilities of cyberspace for intelligence and military tasks: back in 2008, the White Paper on Defense and National Security enshrined the concept of offensive information warfare (lutte informatique offensive). He tried to bring together well-known examples of French cyber operations.

In March 2014, Le Monde, based on a document from Edward Snowder's leak, reported on the cooperation of the Directorate-General for External Security (DGSE, foreign intelligence) and the telecom operator Orange (formerly France Télécom). It was not about hacking, but about the so-called lawful interception by analogy with the PRISM program of the US NSA. According to journalists, the operator provided the special service not only with access to customer data, but also with full and uncontrolled access to its networks and traffic. The DGSE could share this data with other intelligence agencies, as well as with foreign partners such as the NSA and Britain's GCHQ.

Also, thanks to Snowden, a hacker group that had been engaged in espionage for several years and was probably associated with one of the French special services came into the spotlight. Le Monde journalists found among the array of documents a 2011 presentation by the Communications Security Centre of Canada (signals intelligence) to Five Eyes members about the Babar spyware. Canadian experts discovered it back in 2009 and designated the operation as Snowglobe. They immediately suspected that they were dealing with intelligence activities and attributed the operation to France with a moderate degree of certainty, but could not find out which intelligence agency was responsible for it. Among the victims of cyber espionage targets were both European and African countries, and, probably, the French-language media of Canada itself (the full presentation was posted by Der Spiegel).

A year later, cybersecurity researchers supplemented Le Monde's finding: Cyphort and G DATA studied the Babar malware, Eset spoke about a new malware called Casper, and Kaspersky Lab spoke about the development of the group's toolkit (called Animal Farm) since 2010 and shared its analysis of Casper, which researchers discovered on the hacked website of the Syrian Ministry of Justice. According to LC, the victims of espionage were government agencies, military contractors, humanitarian organizations, companies, media outlets, and journalists and activists in different countries. Although these reports did not provide new information as to who was behind the cyberespionage, journalists speculated that everything points to the DGSE. In 2017, Unit 42 revealed an older version of spyware associated with the same group, dating back to 2007.

In addition to foreign intelligence, cyber operations are similare, is also conducted by the Directorate-General for Internal Security (DGSI, formerly DCRI). In early 2024, Mediapart told the story of a French hacker under the pseudonym Sh0ck (retelling without paywall). In 2011, Sh0ck hacked into the website of an American translation firm and unexpectedly discovered secret Thales documents about French frigates. This resulted not only in a suspended sentence of six months and a fine, but also in familiarity with the DGSI. The agency offered the 18-year-old hacker to look for vulnerabilities on jihadist websites, and he agreed to cooperate out of patriotic feelings. According to him, Sh0ck and his friends hacked the popular French-language forum Ansar Al-Haqq based on vBulletin, obtaining the credentials of 4,000 users. This information, in particular, helped to arrest Romain Letellier (known by the nickname al-Normandy), who was spreading al-Qaeda propaganda on the Internet. They also tracked the activity of the Kouachi brothers, who carried out the terrorist attack on the Charlie Hebdo editorial office. The cooperation between Sh0ck and DGSI lasted about 5 years. The hacker did not pass the check when applying for a job in the special service and chose a career in the private sector. The story got into the public field because of a criminal case of fraud against a DGSI civil servant named Xavier J. It was he who acted as an intermediary between the intelligence service and hackers and, as it turned out, kept half of the reward for their services for himself. In 2022, he pleaded guilty and received 3 years in prison.

There is also a well-known case of how in 2017, DGSI employees created fake accounts on Facebook and Telegram and, under the guise of jihadists allegedly having ties to ISIS, communicated with two men who were looking for an exit to the terrorist group and intended to commit a terrorist attack. The tragedy was averted, and potential terrorists were arrested. Whether hackers were involved in this operation is unknown, but it is a textbook example of implementation transferred to cyberspace.

Finally, one of the most well-known cyber operations involving France is the hacking of the EncroChat messenger, popular with organized crime. French and Dutch law enforcement officers became interested in the service back in 2017, and in 2020 they began a joint investigation. On the French side, this was done by the Gendarmerie. Since the traffic from the EncroChat network devices passed through servers located in France, the French were able to access them and download malware to users' phones under the guise of an update (it was reported that the malware was developed by the STNCJ structure subordinate to the DGSI). With the help of the "update", French law enforcement officers were able to intercept 120 million messages from 60 thousand EncroChat users in two and a half months. Perhaps the investigation would have lasted longer, but the creators of EncroChat found that the network was compromised and recommended that users physically destroy the devices.

 

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Durov's double game: how the creator of Telegram secretly collaborated with the special services
The public privacy advocate found himself in a difficult situation.

Recently, it became known that the founder of Telegram, Pavel Durov, cooperated with the French special services, which caused a storm of discussion and doubts about his statements about independence and confidentiality. In questioning in Paris, Durov admitted that he had opened an official channel of communication with France's counterintelligence (DGSI), which he said had helped prevent several terrorist attacks. According to Libération, contact between Durov and the DGSI was carried out through a special hotline and an email address designed to exchange confidential information.

Durov, who has long presented himself as a defender of freedom and independence in the digital space, has previously denied cooperating with any government agencies. However, his admission of cooperation with the French intelligence services raises questions about how independent the platforms he creates remain.

It is interesting to note that the cooperation with the DGSI began even before his arrest in August 2024, when Durov was detained at Paris' Le Bourget airport. Against the backdrop of this detention, a French court ordered Durov to cooperate with the authorities, seizing all his passports and forbidding him to leave France until the investigation was completed.

This information causes mixed reactions in society: on the one hand, cooperation in order to prevent terrorist attacks can be considered as a necessary measure, on the other hand, it runs counter to Durov's public statements about the independence and protection of the privacy of Telegram users. Some analysts also recall Durov's previous contacts with the Russian authorities, which further increases doubts about his true motives.

At the moment, it is not known how this admission will affect Durov's reputation and the further work of Telegram. However, one thing is clear: the question of the balance between security and freedom is once again coming to the fore in discussions about the digital future.

 

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The first photos of the founder of Telegram Durov appeared after four days in jail in France​

Paris Match showed how a satisfied Pavel Durov walks around Paris with his companion Yulia Vavilova. These are the first photos of the Telegram founder after his detention in France as part of a lawsuit against him and the popular messenger.

Three days ago, Durov was released under judicial supervision. He cannot leave France and is obliged to report to the police. However, apparently, Durov is not embarrassed by the criminal case: without hiding a smile, he walks around the capital of France with his companion Yulia Vavilova along the Champs-Elysees.

Earlier, Durov was satisfied with the decision on judicial supervision. According to media and lawyers, this measure does not involve house arrest, which means that the entrepreneur will be able to move freely around France. At the same time, he is obliged to live only at the address determined by the judge and appear at the police station twice a week.

Vavilova flew to Paris with Durov and was detained at Le Bourget airport, after interrogation she and Durov's bodyguard were released. Paris Match calls Vavilova Durov's "fiancée", she is 15 years younger than him.

Paris Match journalists reported that Durov is currently actively looking for housing in the French capital, where he will be during the investigation. This weekend, the 39-year-old founder of Telegram walked along the Champs-Elysees with his partner, 24-year-old Yulia Vavilova, who calls herself a streamer and crypto coach.

Paris Match writes that Vavilova has been Durov's partner for two years. In recent months, she has been seen with Durov during his trips to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan.

On August 24, Pavel Durov was arrested at Paris-Le Bourget airport. The arrest warrant was issued due to the fact that Durov did not cooperate with the French security forces, which makes him an accomplice in drug trafficking and other serious crimes. Durov is a French citizen and is not subject to exchange or extradition.

Formally, in France, Durov was interrogated on 12 charges against an "unnamed person" from the Telegram management team. The charges were brought not against him, but against this person, the Paris prosecutor's office explained. Durov's status in the case was unclear. Nevertheless, Durov was detained until August 28, extending his arrest twice for 48 hours. Durov was restricted in his freedom and was interrogated by the National Cyber Unit (UNC), the gendarmerie and the National Anti-Fraud Bureau since August 24 for almost four days.

On August 28, 2024, the investigating judge of France, based on the materials of the Paris prosecutor's office, transferred Durov to judicial supervision and released him on bail in the amount of 5 million euros. Durov is prohibited from leaving France until the end of the trial.

Pavel Durov's lawyer David-Olivier Kaminski considers the accusations of the French prosecutor's office against his client of involvement in crimes committed through Telegram by other users absurd. Durov's defense insists that the founder of Telegram is not obliged to answer for all criminals who used his messenger. The lawyer will insist that, based on this logic, Apple CEO Tim Cook should also be prosecuted, since many offenders use iPhones to access Telegram.

According to media reports, Durov during interrogation in Paris said that he had maintained ties with representatives of the General Directorate of Internal Security of France (DGSI, counterintelligence). In particular, Durov allegedly met with representatives of the French special services in Dubai, the Libération newspaper reported, citing a source. Libération claims that after his detention in France, Durov expressed his willingness to cooperate and provided law enforcement officers with his mobile phone and access code to it.

Source

 

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Durov first commented on the charges against him in France​

Telegram founder Pavel Durov published his first post after his detention in France. He believes that it was a mistake to accuse him of crimes committed in the messenger by third parties. However, Durov assured that Telegram will take more measures to combat crime.

Durov said that the police in Paris interrogated him for four days. He called the claims from the French authorities surprising, explaining that Telegram has a representative in the European Union who responds to requests, and the French authorities had many ways to contact Pavel Durov personally. He also claims to have helped set up a "hotline" to fight terrorism in France.

According to him, if a country is dissatisfied with the work of a certain service, then "common practice" is to file a lawsuit. "The use of laws adopted in the era before smartphones to accuse the CEO (of the service. - Kommersant) of crimes committed by third parties on its platform is a mistaken approach... No innovator will create new tools knowing that they can be held accountable for the potential abuse of these tools," Durov said.

He noted that "striking the right balance between privacy and security is not easy," but Telegram is committed to engaging with regulators and is "always open to dialogue." If it is not possible to agree with the authorities, the messenger is ready to stop working in this country. "When Russia demanded that we hand over the 'encryption keys' to ensure surveillance, we refused, and Telegram was banned in Russia. When Iran demanded that we block the channels of peaceful protesters, we refused — and Telegram was banned in Iran. We are willing to leave markets that are incompatible with our principles, because we are not doing it for the money. We are driven by the intention to do good and protect the fundamental rights of people, especially in places where these rights are violated," Pavel Durov assures.

He agrees that Telegram is "not perfect" and it is necessary to add opportunities for the authorities to send requests to contact the messenger. "But the claims of some media that Telegram is a kind of anarchic paradise are absolutely untrue. We remove millions of malicious posts and channels every day... We have direct hotlines with non-governmental organizations to process urgent moderation requests faster," said the founder of the messenger.

Durov admitted that the listed measures may not be enough, especially against the backdrop of a sharp increase in the number of Telegram users to 950 million people, which "made it easier for criminals to abuse the platform". "That is why I have set my personal goal to significantly improve the situation in this direction (in the fight against abuse of the service. - Kommersant). We have already started this process within the company, and I will share with you the details of our progress very soon", the entrepreneur promised.

Pavel Durov was detained at the Paris airport on the evening of August 24. He was charged with six counts relating to refusing to cooperate with French authorities, as well as complicity in providing digital tools for the distribution of child pornography, drug trafficking and fraud. On August 28, he was released under judicial supervision on bail of €5 million and is banned from leaving France for six months. South Korea is also conducting an investigation against Telegram, it plans to cooperate with the French side.

 

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Durov: Telegram is ready to leave a number of countries
The founder of the messenger first commented on his four-day detention in France.

Telegram founder Pavel Durov first commented on his recent detention in France, sharing the details of the incident and plans to improve the messenger's security.

Last month, Durov was detained by French police for four days immediately after arriving in Paris. He was told that he could be personally responsible for the illegal use of Telegram by other people, as the French authorities did not receive responses from the company to their requests.

The founder of Telegram expressed surprise at what happened, noting several important points. According to him, Telegram has an official representative in the EU who receives and responds to requests from European authorities. The email address of this representative is easy to find on the Internet.

Durov also stressed that the French authorities had many ways to contact him directly. As a French citizen, he often visited the French consulate in Dubai and even personally helped set up a hotline between Telegram and the authorities to combat the threat of terrorism in France.

The founder of the messenger believes that the approach in which the CEO of the company is accused of crimes committed by third parties on the platform is wrong. In his opinion, the use of laws from the "pre-smartphone" era to prosecute technology executives could negatively affect innovation in the industry.

Pavel Durov admitted that achieving a balance between privacy and security is not an easy task. There are many factors to consider: privacy laws, law enforcement requirements, local and European legislation, technological limitations. At the same time, the platform should ensure global consistency of processes and protection against abuse in countries with weak rule of law.

The founder of Telegram announced the company's readiness to leave the markets of countries whose requirements are incompatible with the principles of the messenger. As examples, Durov cited cases with Russia and Iran, where the company refused to hand over encryption keys and block the channels of peaceful protesters, which led to the blocking of the messenger in these countries.

Durov admitted that Telegram is not perfect, and announced plans to improve the platform. He refuted claims by some media outlets that Telegram is an "anarchic paradise", stressing that the company removes millions of malicious posts and channels every day, publishes transparency reports, and cooperates with NGOs to accelerate content moderation.

With the number of users skyrocketing to 950 million, Telegram has faced issues that have made it easier for attackers to abuse the platform. Pavel Durov said that he would personally deal with a significant improvement in the situation in this direction, and promised to share details about the progress made soon.

"I hope that the events of August will lead to the fact that Telegram - and the social media industry as a whole - will become safer and stronger," the founder of the messenger summed up.

 

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Under pressure from the authorities: how Durov changes Telegram after accusations from France
The platform gets rid of problematic features and introduces new ones.
Telegram founder Pavel Durov announced measures to improve moderation on the platform and remove features that were used for illegal activities. These changes followed accusations against him by the French authorities that Telegram allegedly facilitated criminal activity.

In a statement on Friday, Durov noted that one of the important tasks is to transform moderation on Telegram from an object of criticism to an example to follow. Among the announced changes is the removal of the "people nearby" feature, which was often used by scammers and bots. Now it will be replaced by the "businesses nearby" function, which will show only legal companies. Media downloads were also disabled in the Telegraph blogging tool, as this feature was abused by anonymous users.

In addition, it is reported that Telegram has made changes to its Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page, removing mentions that personal chats are protected from moderation. Although the source code of the application has not changed, users can now report suspicious chats to moderators.

Durov stressed that the vast majority of users of the platform - almost a billion people - are in no way related to criminal activities. However, a small proportion of violators create a negative image of the platform.

It also became known that the number of paid Telegram subscribers has reached 10 million.

Earlier in August, the founder of Telegram was detained in France as part of an investigation related to crimes such as the distribution of images of child sexual abuse, drug trafficking and fraud. After this incident, Durov actively defended his platform, stating that accusations of its anarchy were untrue, as millions of malicious posts and channels were deleted every day.

Durov managed to avoid detention by posting bail of 5 million euros. As part of the agreement, he is obliged to visit the police station twice a week and remain in France until the conclusion of the trial.

The situation around Telegram and its founder remains tense, given the scale of the charges and subsequent changes in the platform's moderation policy.

 

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Durov fully complies with the conditions of judicial supervision, twice a week he is reported to the commissariat", the Paris prosecutor said.

Paris Prosecutor Laure Becaud called the case of Pavel Durov indicative and that he is cooperating with the investigation, but refused to answer whether Elon Musk will be arrested if he comes to France.

Q: Some people were surprised by what happened. We have not seen anything like this anywhere in the world. What prompted you to go on the offensive against Telegram and its owner?

Prosecutor: This case is ultimately quite indicative of the actions taken by the cybercrime department of the Paris prosecutor's office. We are talking about Telegram, but I can remind you that this department is also interested in Coco sites, as well as the encrypted Sky ECC messenger. <.. > The idea that in a world that is too often thought of as virtual, organized crime is evolving, this is one of its methods of action. This realization was enshrined in court [by shutting down these platforms], and it was also supported by legislators, who created a new law that provides for punishment for operating a platform that allows illegal transactions. That means...

Question: In fact, no one is protected now. If illegal content appears on Twitter tomorrow, which is now called X, and if Elon Musk comes to France, could you detain him?

Prosecutor: We were interested in the Telegram platform because the cybercrime department was notified that the platform received a number of requests to identify cybercriminals, especially those involved in child pornography, but did not respond to these requests. They did not react. Therefore, this platform caught the attention of the department and therefore these investigations were initiated.

Question: Pavel Durov must report to the police station twice a week. Does the owner of Telegram comply with the terms of judicial control?

Prosecutor: He fully cooperates with justice.

More about the hacking of Durov's

phone At the end of August, the WSJ reported that France and the UAE hacked Pavel Durov's phone (as part of Operation Purple Music) - allegedly this was due to the concern of the special services that Telegram was being used by terrorists.

Yesterday, another article about this operation appeared from the French edition of Intelligence Online. Alas, he is under a paywall, so I will give only a brief retelling of the retelling. Allegedly, there was some kind of secret deal between France and Durov: Durov transferred his servers to France, and in return received citizenship. While negotiations were underway, French foreign intelligence (DGSE) hacked into Durov's phone because they were worried about his ties to the FSB, but did not seem to find anything interesting. Durov received citizenship, but no one insisted on transferring the servers, and this simply did not happen. And allegedly the foreign intelligence operation was not related to the fact that law enforcement agencies were interested in Durov.

Of course, it is impossible to check what is true and what is not in this version. But it is known that Pavel Durov received French citizenship not in the usual, but in an emergency manner, with the blessing of President Macron (Radio France restored what it looked like for diplomats in the Foreign Ministry and in Dubai). See also Politico last week reported on Durov's interrogation in Paris, during which the founder of Telegram stated in his defense that he had had interaction with the French authorities, in particular, he had previously met with representatives of the DGSE in Dubai, and also maintained contact with domestic intelligence (DGSI) on counter-terrorism issues.

 

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️ Now officially!
Telegram has started handing over your personal data to law enforcement. IP-Addresses of your account, linked phone number/email and archives of your messages. Also, Telegram has started blocking all resources with sales of illegal stuff and services, this is not selective, but total. Some operatives from the FSB (Russian FBI) and SBU (Ukranian FBI) have already confirmed the facts of obtaining personal data of criminals.

We strongly advise you to think about finding an alternative option for work and remind you that our marketplace is open 24/7 for all buyers and sellers. Also, in case of blocking, on our site you can find all the latest manuals for work!