00:00A French court has indicted Telegram founder Pavel Durov on multiple charges, including
00:21complicity in operating an online platform used by criminals and facilitating various
00:26illegal activities.
00:29Durov appeared in a Paris court on Wednesday following his arrest upon arrival from Azerbaijan.
00:35The court has charged him with dozens of offences, with most serious carrying a 10-year potential
00:41prison sentence.
00:44The charges against Durov also include facilitating fraud, money laundering, drug distribution
00:49and also child pornography.
00:53He is also accused of refusing to provide user data for law enforcement investigations.
00:59Durov, who holds a citizenship in France, the UAE, and Saint-Kitts-en-Lavage, was released
01:04on a 5 million euro bond, but must remain in France and report to police twice weekly
01:09until the investigation concludes.
01:13The investigation, led by OFMIN, a French investigative agency focused on crimes against
01:18minors, reportedly began in February, contradicting earlier statements from the prosecutors.
01:25The Telegram app, with nearly a billion monthly users, generally refuses to share user data
01:30or chat records with law enforcement.
01:33The company maintains that it complies with local laws and argues that it is unreasonable
01:38to hold a platform and its owner responsible for user misconduct.
01:44Durov's arrest has also sparked controversy, with some activists viewing it as part of
01:48a broader campaign against free speech by Western governments.
01:52However, French President Emmanuel Macron has denied any political motivation behind
01:57the arrest, emphasizing France's commitment to freedom of expression.
02:02The case has raised concerns about the potential pressure on Durov to surrender user data.
02:08Sergei Naryshkin, the head of Russia's foreign intelligence service, has expressed his hope
02:13that Durov will resist such actions.
02:16The outcome of this case can have significant implications for the future of encrypted messaging
02:21service in Telegram and the broader debate on digital privacy versus public safety.
02:27Now as the investigation unfolds, it is likely going to draw international attention and
02:31scrutiny from both tech industry observers and privacy advocates.
02:51Don't miss out.
02:58Log on to OneIndia.com for more updates.
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