French authorities have arrested Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov on a search warrant for alleged breach of the encrypted messaging system.
French media, including Le Monde, Reported Le Monde newspaper reported, citing informed sources, that Durov was arrested upon his arrival from Azerbaijan on his private plane at Le Bourget airport, north of Paris. The newspaper confirmed Durov’s arrest, citing informed sources.
Bloomberg also Spotlight cable mail Written by Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, who confirmed the arrest, adding further credibility to the story about the event.
Telegram CEO under investigation by French authorities
French authorities have launched a preliminary investigation into the popular messaging platform Telegram, with L’Office Mineurs (OFMIN), the agency responsible for monitoring crimes against minors, issuing a search warrant.
AFP claims the investigation covers a range of alleged wrongdoings, including fraud, drug trafficking, cyberbullying and organised crime activities enabled by the site. The investigations stem from concerns about Telegram’s inadequate content moderation methods.
The Financial Market Integrity Office is leading the investigation into Durov. According to reports, Durov was due to appear in court on August 25. Given the seriousness of the charges against him, the charges could result in a 20-year prison sentence.
Impact on TON
TON’s third-party blockchain system, integrated with Telegram, Continues Telegram continues to operate as usual despite Durov’s legal objections. A recent comment on TON’s official X account emphasized the stability of the protocol and highlighted the encouraging response from its community under the current circumstances. Telegram has yet to mention the founder’s arrest.
Statement from the TON Community
Following the recent news regarding Telegram founder Pavel Durov, we would like to assure everyone that the TON community is still strong and fully operational.
As a community committed to freedom of expression and decentralization, we stand firmly…
— TON 💎 (@ton_blockchain) August 24, 2024
“As a community committed to freedom of expression and decentralization, we stand firmly with Pavel during these difficult times. Pavel has been a staunch advocate for these values, and we believe his efforts to advance an open and decentralized internet will continue to inspire millions,” the platform added.
Telegram-linked token TON saw a sharp drop of up to 17% following reports of Durov’s arrest in France. As of Last updateTON is trading just above $5.72, representing a 15% drop in just a few hours.
Community Reactions to Telegram CEO Arrest
On August 24, Tesla CEO and X platform owner Elon Musk expressed his support for Durov by posting a previous interview between Durov and independent journalist Tucker Carlson on his social media, accompanied by the hashtag #FreePavel.
#Free Pavel
pic.twitter.com/B7AcJWswMs— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 25, 2024
In a recent video statement, Durov praised Musk’s acquisition of Twitter, calling it a beneficial step for technological progress and the promotion of freedom of expression.
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin He answered In a post on X, American entrepreneur and investor Balaji Srinivasan addressed the issue in more detail. While Buterin has publicly criticized Telegram’s encryption policies in the past, he expressed serious concerns about the recent allegations against the site.
He highlighted the potential future consequences for software and communications freedom in Europe, describing the first elements as “very bad and worrying.” As the story began to spread on social media, with the Telegram app on the X platform gaining popularity, several prominent figures offered their analysis.
Among them is Robert Kennedy Jr., the American politician who suspended his presidential campaign in August 2024, Confirmed Durov’s arrest underscores the critical importance of protecting platforms dedicated to freedom of expression and privacy.
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