By Dave DeCamp
On Wednesday, French judicial authorities indicted Telegram CEO Pavel Durov on six preliminary charges relating to illicit activity on the messaging app.
The case against Durov has sparked a global backlash since charging the head of a tech platform for the activity of its users has chilling implications for free speech.
One of the preliminary charges is for “managing an online platform to allow illicit transactions by an organized group,” which could lead to up to ten years in prison and a 500,000 euro fine. Durov is also accused of not cooperating with investigations into illegal activity on Telegram.
The investigation into Durov is expected to take months or even years, and if judicial authorities don’t find enough evidence, they could drop the preliminary charges.
Durov, a Russian-born citizen of France and the UAE, was released on a 5 million euro bail on Wednesday. He is not allowed to leave France and must check in at a police station twice a week.
The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that in 2018, Durov had lunch with French President Emmanuel Macron, who invited Durov to move Telegram, which is based in Abu Dhabi, to Paris. The report also revealed that in 2017, French spies targeted Durov in a joint operation with the UAE to hack his phone.
Pavel has said he left Russia in 2014 due to pressure from the government to share information about users of VK, a social media platform he also founded. The Telegram CEO has also faced pressure from the US government.
Earlier this year, Pavel told former Fox News host Tucker Carlson he had faced pressure from the FBI during visits to the US. He said one of his engineers was approached by US government officials who wanted to hire him as part of an effort to give the US a back door into Telegram to access user data, similar to how US intelligence agencies have access to American tech platforms.
Source: Antiwar.com
Dave DeCamp is the news editor of Antiwar.com, follow him on Twitter @decampdave. View all posts by Dave DeCamp
Become a Patron!
Or support us at SubscribeStar
Donate cryptocurrency HERE
Subscribe to Activist Post for truth, peace, and freedom news. Follow us on Telegram, HIVE, Minds, MeWe, Twitter – X and Gab.
Provide, Protect and Profit from what’s coming! Get a free issue of Counter Markets today.
Be the first to comment on "French Authorities Issue Preliminary Charges Against Telegram CEO"