Telegram's Durov Granted Temporary Leave from France Amid Legal Battle
1min read Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of the social media app Telegram, has been granted permission to temporarily leave France amidst an ongoing legal battle with French authorities. Durov, a Russian-born billionaire, has reportedly traveled to Dubai, marking his first departure from French territory since his indictment last year.
In August 2024, Durov was arrested by French law enforcement at le Bourget Airport near Paris. The arrest was due to allegations that Telegram lacked sufficient control measures to prevent illegal activities on the platform, including the dissemination of terrorism-related content and child pornography. Despite having a user base of over 900 million, Durov was formally charged with failing to curb these activities.
Durov's arrest sparked a widespread debate among internet users, raising concerns over free speech and the extent to which social media platform owners should be held accountable for user activities. Shortly after his detention, Durov was released on a €5 million bail but was prohibited from leaving France. According to a recent report, a French court has now approved a temporary leave for Durov, allowing him to travel to Dubai on March 15. It remains unclear whether Durov has resolved the charges brought by the Paris Prosecutor's office, but an unnamed source indicates that Durov is permitted to spend some weeks outside of France.
The temporary release of Durov has been well-received by the digital community, including many crypto enthusiasts. Telegram has ventured into the blockchain space over the past few years, developing The Open Network (TON) blockchain in 2018. The platform intended to use TON to launch its own cryptocurrency, Gram. However, due to regulatory issues with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Telegram's leadership transferred ownership of TON to an independent community of developers. Despite this, Telegram remains integrated with TON, allowing the use of Toncoin for payments and hosting several web3 applications.
Commenting on Durov's release, the TON Foundation released a statement expressing their support for the tech figure. They highlighted that Telegram represents a global movement committed to the freedom of communication and the inalienable right to privacy. The Foundation also extended their gratitude to the community, the broader tech industry, and all advocates of free speech who have supported Durov.
