Paris prosecutor labels Durov’s case as ‘an example’
A scrutiny of Telegram has commenced due to its failure to comply with requests for identifying cybercriminals, stated Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
France has initiated an investigation into the Telegram messaging app after the platform failed to comply with requests to identify individuals involved in cybercrime, according to Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau.
The inquiry centers around Telegram's CEO, Pavel Durov, who was detained upon his arrival in Paris in late August. Durov faces several charges, including not cooperating with French authorities and running an online service allegedly used by organized crime groups for illegal activities like trafficking and child sexual abuse. Following his arrest, Durov, a Russian tech mogul who also holds citizenship in France, UAE, and Saint Kitts and Nevis, was released on a €5 million bail. The 39-year-old billionaire must remain in France as the legal proceedings continue.
In a conversation with RTL Radio, Beccuau described the actions against Durov as “a good example of the kind of actions being carried out by the cybercrime section of the Paris Prosecutor’s Office.”
Beccuau also mentioned that her office had previously dealt with issues related to the Coco chat website and the Sky ECC encrypted messenger, leading to their shutdown.
“Organized crime is spreading in a world that we consider to be virtual,” the prosecutor remarked.
Beccuau highlighted that France is adapting to these challenges by modifying its laws and creating a new criminal offense for operating an online platform that facilitates illegal activities, a charge included in Durov’s case.
The Paris Prosecutor’s Office focused on Telegram after their cybercrime division made multiple attempts to get the platform to identify users engaged in illegal acts, such as child pornography, without success, Beccuau explained.
Durov is currently complying with his bail conditions, which include reporting to the police twice a week, Beccuau noted.
Recently, Durov addressed some accusations in a statement on Telegram, clarifying that the platform is not an "anarchic paradise." He emphasized that Telegram actively removes "millions of harmful posts and channels every day," and routinely issues "daily transparency reports" to document its efforts against the spread of unlawful content, including child abuse and terrorism.
Durov also mentioned his previous cooperation with French authorities and stated his ongoing willingness to collaborate with state regulators to find "the right balance between privacy and security."
Mark B Thomas for TROIB News
The inquiry centers around Telegram's CEO, Pavel Durov, who was detained upon his arrival in Paris in late August. Durov faces several charges, including not cooperating with French authorities and running an online service allegedly used by organized crime groups for illegal activities like trafficking and child sexual abuse. Following his arrest, Durov, a Russian tech mogul who also holds citizenship in France, UAE, and Saint Kitts and Nevis, was released on a €5 million bail. The 39-year-old billionaire must remain in France as the legal proceedings continue.
In a conversation with RTL Radio, Beccuau described the actions against Durov as “a good example of the kind of actions being carried out by the cybercrime section of the Paris Prosecutor’s Office.”
Beccuau also mentioned that her office had previously dealt with issues related to the Coco chat website and the Sky ECC encrypted messenger, leading to their shutdown.
“Organized crime is spreading in a world that we consider to be virtual,” the prosecutor remarked.
Beccuau highlighted that France is adapting to these challenges by modifying its laws and creating a new criminal offense for operating an online platform that facilitates illegal activities, a charge included in Durov’s case.
The Paris Prosecutor’s Office focused on Telegram after their cybercrime division made multiple attempts to get the platform to identify users engaged in illegal acts, such as child pornography, without success, Beccuau explained.
Durov is currently complying with his bail conditions, which include reporting to the police twice a week, Beccuau noted.
Recently, Durov addressed some accusations in a statement on Telegram, clarifying that the platform is not an "anarchic paradise." He emphasized that Telegram actively removes "millions of harmful posts and channels every day," and routinely issues "daily transparency reports" to document its efforts against the spread of unlawful content, including child abuse and terrorism.
Durov also mentioned his previous cooperation with French authorities and stated his ongoing willingness to collaborate with state regulators to find "the right balance between privacy and security."
Mark B Thomas for TROIB News
