Pavel Durov, founder and CEO of Telegram, has returned to Dubai while remaining under investigation by French authorities for his alleged involvement in criminal activities conducted through his messaging platform.
The return follows months of legal scrutiny, with the inquiry into Telegram’s role in facilitating illicit operations still ongoing.
France’s Legal Challenge: A Cross-Border Battle Over Telegram’s Accountability
Durov’s legal troubles began in August 2024 when French prosecutors arrested him near Paris.
Authorities formally charged him with complicity in crimes including child sexual abuse and drug trafficking, alleging that Telegram’s insufficient moderation policies enabled criminal activity to flourish on the platform.
As part of his bail conditions, Durov had been required to remain in France and report to local authorities twice a week. His bail was set at 5 million euros.
The charges stem from a broader investigation into how encrypted platforms are being misused for illegal activities. French prosecutors invoked a cybercrime law introduced in September 2024 to target tech executives whose platforms facilitate criminal behavior. If convicted, Durov could face a prison sentence of up to ten years and a substantial financial penalty.
The legal battle follows earlier tensions. In 2017, French and UAE intelligence agencies reportedly hacked Durov’s iPhone as part of a covert operation. A year later, President Emmanuel Macron invited Durov to move Telegram’s headquarters to Paris—a gesture that now stands in stark contrast to the current legal confrontation.
While French officials emphasize the importance of accountability, Durov has consistently denied wrongdoing, labeling the accusations as “misguided”.
He asserts that Telegram has adhered to all legal obligations related to moderation and has cooperated with law enforcement authorities wherever possible.
The charges have also sparked international discourse. Some Russian officials have described the arrest as politically motivated, noting that Durov’s departure from Russia in 2014 was due to his refusal to shut down opposition groups on his previous platform, VKontakte.
Telegram’s Tightrope: Balancing User Privacy and Law Enforcement
The scrutiny has prompted significant shifts in Telegram’s moderation practices. In response to mounting legal pressure, the platform announced Telegram’s December 2024 partnership with the IWF to combat child abuse content.
The collaboration marked a remarkable change for Telegram, which had long resisted external oversight of its moderation processes.
The IWF specializes in identifying and blocking child sexual abuse material, and Telegram’s integration of hash-matching technology now allows the platform to block such content more effectively without compromising user privacy.
Describing the partnership, the IWF’s interim CEO said back then, “This is a transformational first step on a much longer journey”. Durov framed the move as part of broader reforms, stating that Telegram aims to “turn moderation from an area of criticism into one of praise.”
The platform had already made other notable changes in September 2024 by extending moderation to private chats, a major shift from its previous hands-off approach.
This January, Telegram introduced third-party verification tools to address the proliferation of scams and misinformation. The system allows verified organizations to authenticate related accounts, aiming to bolster user trust while maintaining the platform’s decentralized ethos.in January 2025
Global Challenges and Intensified Scrutiny
Telegram’s efforts to balance privacy and accountability have been under scrutiny beyond France. In October 2024, Durov confirmed that Telegram has been sharing user IP addresses and phone numbers with law enforcement agencies since 2018, provided that legal requests are properly formatted and pertain to serious criminal activity.
Telegram’s transparency reports reveal that over 6,000 such data requests were processed during the first three quarters of 2024, with most originating from European countries. The surge coincided with the European Union’s enforcement of the Digital Services Act, which places greater obligations on digital platforms to monitor harmful content.
Despite these changes, critics argue that Telegram’s increased cooperation with law enforcement could undermine its reputation for uncompromised privacy.
This concern is heightened by the platform’s involvement in global legal disputes. In Australia, Telegram was fined nearly $1 million in late 2024 for failing to meet reporting deadlines on extremist and child exploitation content.
The United Nations also identified Telegram as a platform used by criminal syndicates in Southeast Asia for activities like fraud and money laundering. An anonymous vendor quoted in the report stated, “We move 3 million USDT stolen from overseas per day”.
In South Korea, last September authorities launched an investigation into Telegram’s role in deepfake scandals. The inquiry spotlighted the growing misuse of AI-generated media for exploitative purposes.
Back in Dubai, But Legal Questions Follow
Despite his return to Dubai, Durov remains under legal scrutiny. French prosecutors continue to examine Telegram’s role in facilitating illegal activities, and Durov could be summoned back should new evidence arise.
Upon his return, Durov expressed relief and thanked the investigative judges and his legal team for their efforts. He reiterated that Telegram has “when it comes to moderation, cooperation, and fighting crime, for years Telegram not only met but exceeded its legal obligations.”
