Telegram CEO released on bail

PARIS – Pavel Durov, the founder and chief executive officer of the encrypted messaging service Telegram, was released on Wednesday after paying 5 million euros (about USD5.6 million) bail.

He, however, has been required to report to the police twice a week, Paris Public Prosecutor Laure Beccuau announced Wednesday night.

Beccuau also said Durov was officially placed under investigation on six charges and was prohibited from leaving France.

Durov was arrested by French police at an airport outside Paris on Saturday night after being accused of 12 criminal offenses, including failing to act against Telegram users involved in cyberbullying, sharing pedophilic content and glorifying terrorism.

Beccuau said the arrest "comes in the context of a judicial investigation opened on July 8, 2024."

It also concerns "refusal to communicate, at the request of competent authorities, information or documents necessary for carrying out and operating interceptions allowed by law," the Paris prosecutor added.

In response to the arrest, the Telegram group said on its X account that the company "abides by European Union (EU) laws, including the Digital Services Act."

"It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner is responsible for abuse of that platform," it added.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that the arrest of Durov is "in no way a political decision."

Durov's arrest in France "took place as part of an ongoing judicial investigation," Macron said on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

Meanwhile, Elon Musk, owner of the U.S. social media platform X, and Edward Snowden, former U.S. National Security Agency contractor, condemned on Sunday Durov's arrest. (PNA)