Paris prosecutor calls Durov case 'exemplary'
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Durov has maintained that Telegram actively fights against illegal content, removing millions of harmful posts daily and publishing transparency reports.
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View of the deserted Seine river banks along the Palais de Justice courthouse in Paris, Wednesday, April 8, 2020. (AP)
Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau described the case against Telegram CEO Pavel Durov as "exemplary" in France's fight against cybercrime on Monday.
Durov was arrested in late August upon his arrival in Paris and charged with multiple offenses, including refusing to cooperate with authorities and running an online platform allegedly used for illegal activities, such as trafficking and child sexual abuse.
Durov, a Russian-born tech billionaire with citizenship in France, the UAE, and Saint Kitts and Nevis, was later released on €5 million ($5.55 million) bail but remains barred from leaving France while the case is ongoing.
Beccuau stressed the importance of the case, pointing to the failure of platforms like Telegram to assist in cybercrime investigations, including the refusal to help identify cybercriminals involved in child pornography.
Read more: Telegram will start moderating private chats, altering policy: Durov
France's cybercrime unit had contacted Telegram multiple times, seeking assistance in tracking down individuals using the platform for illegal activities, but Beccuau stated that the app "did not respond."
This lack of cooperation has drawn attention to Telegram, especially after France strengthened its laws to prosecute those managing platforms that enable illegal transactions, Beccuau explained.
In response to the charges, Durov has maintained that Telegram actively fights against illegal content, removing millions of harmful posts daily and publishing transparency reports.
He denied claims that Telegram is an "anarchic paradise," citing previous cooperation with French law enforcement, including establishing a hotline to address terrorism concerns.
Read more: Arrest in France 'misguided,' Telegram not 'anarchic paradise': Durov
Observers have criticized Durov's arrest, including the Russian Foreign Ministry and Elon Musk.
Musk mocked the EU in a tweet, stating, "POV: It’s 2030 in Europe and you’re being executed for liking a meme."
