Telegram cooperation with France led to requests from other nations
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One EU nation successfully received a response to its requests of a Telegram group that orchestrated around 100 murders, while "a major international power" also sought to take advantage of Telegram's cooperation.
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Telegram CEO Pavel Durov in a picture posted on his Instagram account, on October 8, 2024. (@durov)
Telegram's cooperation with France's justice system after the arrest of its founder, Pavel Durov, has resulted in other countries requesting information from the platform as part of the cybercrime investigation, according to Le Figaro newspaper, citing sources.
The instant messaging platform's cooperation with France benefits all countries that are members of the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust), the paper wrote.
The report added that one of the Eurojust members successfully received a response to its requests concerning a Telegram group that orchestrated around 100 murders, while "a major international power" also sought to take advantage of Telegram's willingness to cooperate.
Additionally, other nations, including South Korea, are in the process of registering their cases against the instant messaging platform in the French justice system.
Telegram started responding to investigators' requests and providing information "capable of identifying criminals in investigations of crimes against children" after Durov's arrest, according to the Liberation daily.
Paris prosecutor calls Durov case 'exemplary'
On September 9, Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau described the case against Durov as "exemplary" in France's fight against cybercrime.
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.
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.
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.
