arrest Archives

AppWizard

April 24, 2025

Technology behind private messaging app Telegram names Maximilian…

The TON Foundation will announce Maximilian Crown as its new CEO on Thursday. This appointment aims to stabilize Telegram, which has a user base of one billion, following the arrest of its founder Pavel Durov in Paris last year. Crown's leadership is seen as a significant step for Telegram, demonstrating its commitment to expanding its multi-functional app amid governmental pressures to access user data. Crown has experience as CFO and COO of MoonPay and has successfully secured operational approvals across various countries. Telegram has transformed into a “Super App,” integrating features such as gaming, shopping, and payment functionalities. The Telegram Open Network (TON) has 41 million active accounts and 121 million Toncoin holders. Toncoin's value is tied to Telegram's fortunes, experiencing fluctuations following Durov's arrest. Concerns have been raised regarding the impact of French authorities' actions on Telegram’s blockchain initiatives, especially related to digital privacy and government oversight. Durov was detained for 96 hours and criticized the scrutiny faced by Telegram, warning against legislative efforts that threaten individual freedoms.

TrendTechie

April 2, 2025

Создателя торрент-сайта и участника группы The Scene приговорили к тюрьме в Дании

A Danish court sentenced a 46-year-old man to nine months in prison for uploading about 74 terabytes of pirated films and shows to torrent trackers SuperBits and DanishBytes. A 48-year-old man received a twelve-month sentence for hosting servers that distributed pirated content linked to The Scene. Over five years, Danish law enforcement has intensified efforts against local torrent sites, convicting over twenty individuals, including uploaders and administrators. The 48-year-old illegally copied content from three streaming services specializing in Danish children's series and possessed 134 terabytes of copyrighted material. He was active in The Scene from November 2021 until his arrest in November 2023. Following the arrests, several factions of The Scene in Denmark stopped producing new content, including DKiDS, which last uploaded on November 21, 2023. Neither convicted individual profited from the distribution, and both had no prior criminal records. The volume of illegally shared content influenced the court's decisions. In summer 2020, a significant operation led to the shutdown of multiple pirate sites, with American authorities arresting key figures from The Scene.

AppWizard

March 18, 2025

Youth pastor charged with possessing and sharing child sex abuse material

Daniel Menelaou, a youth pastor in Roswell, Georgia, is in custody after allegations of sharing explicit videos involving minors. The investigation began following a cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, leading to a search of Menelaou's residence where several electronic devices were seized for analysis. He is accused of uploading videos depicting minors in sexually explicit conduct via the messaging app Kik. Futures Church, where he served, condemned his actions and placed him on administrative leave before terminating his employment. The police are investigating further and may file additional charges.

AppWizard

March 17, 2025

South Jersey Man Shared Child Porn On Messaging App: Prosecutor

A 49-year-old resident of Millville, John Dunigan, has been arrested for distributing child pornography via the messaging app Kik, following a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Authorities connected various IP addresses and email addresses to Dunigan during their investigation. A search warrant executed at his residence led to charges of first-degree distribution and second-degree possession of child sexual abuse material. Dunigan remains in custody at the Cumberland County Jail, with prosecutors seeking to ensure his continued detention.

AppWizard

March 13, 2025

Signal no longer cooperating with Ukraine on Russian cyber threats, official says

The encrypted messaging app Signal has stopped responding to inquiries from Ukrainian law enforcement about Russian cyber threats, raising concerns that this inaction is aiding Russian intelligence operations. Ukrainian officials, including Serhii Demediuk from the National Security and Defense Council, claim that Signal's lack of engagement is allowing Russian actors to exploit the app for espionage against Ukrainian military and government personnel. Ukraine had previously communicated with Signal about misuse, but the app has not addressed these issues. In contrast, Ukrainians are increasingly using Signal as a safer alternative to Telegram, which has faced scrutiny for potential exploitation by Russian intelligence. Meanwhile, U.S.-Ukraine cooperation has been affected by changes in American foreign policy, including a freeze on U.S. foreign aid and a temporary halt in intelligence sharing, impacting Ukraine's cyber capabilities.

AppWizard

March 9, 2025

Dagestan, Chechnya block Telegram messaging app

Authorities in Russia's Dagestan and Chechnya have banned the messaging app Telegram, citing concerns over its content moderation policies and the proliferation of extremist content. This decision is part of a broader trend of increasing governmental control over online communications in the region. Anton Nemkin from the State Duma expressed that Telegram's lax moderation poses a threat to public safety, and local official Gamzatov indicated there may be potential for the app's reinstatement in the future. The Russian government has previously blocked other messaging services like Signal and is considering actions against WhatsApp, while access to platforms like YouTube has also been restricted. Additionally, Telegram has faced scrutiny outside Russia, including a ban for officials in Ukraine due to national security concerns linked to its founder Pavel Durov.

AppWizard

February 28, 2025

N.J. teacher accused of uploading child pornography posed as a teen in chat app, officials say

Matthew Serwedes, a 48-year-old former technology educator from Union County, has been charged with second-degree distribution and third-degree possession of child sexual abuse material. He allegedly posed as a teenager on an encrypted messaging platform to engage with users and had uploaded images of child exploitation. The investigation began with a tip on December 5, 2024, leading authorities to trace videos of sexual abuse to Serwedes' IP address. During a search of his home, electronic devices were confiscated, and he admitted to owning the account used for the activities. Serwedes was placed on administrative leave from his teaching position, and the school district stated there is no evidence of student involvement. He remains in custody awaiting a detention hearing and plans to plead not guilty. Additionally, he wrote a six-page apology letter to the victims and their families.

AppWizard

February 18, 2025

Elon Musk Is Trying to Hinder Anti-Trump Whistleblowers

Elon Musk has blocked links to the encrypted messaging app Signal on his platform, X, causing concerns about the selective application of free speech. Cybersecurity researchers reported that accessing Signal links results in a warning page, although users can still proceed. Donald Trump is advocating for leniency towards Andrew Tate, who, along with his brother, faces serious legal charges in Romania but has temporarily blocked his indictment and remains under investigation. Musk's DOGE initiative seeks access to sensitive taxpayer information from the IRS, prompting ethical and security concerns among officials. Musk has also expressed support for Trump's criticisms of CBS’s 60 Minutes, reflecting a growing alignment with Trump's narrative against mainstream media. The Associated Press is in conflict with the Trump administration over the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America," resulting in the revocation of its access to significant areas like the Oval Office and Air Force One.

AppWizard

February 15, 2025

Berkeley Twp Man Used Kik Messaging App To Send, Receive Child Porn: Prosecutor

Mario Calabrese, a resident of Berkeley Township, is under investigation for the distribution and possession of child pornography. He was reportedly sending and receiving illicit images through a KiK Messenger account. A court-authorized search warrant was executed at his residence on February 13, where forensic experts confirmed the presence of the Kik Messenger app on his devices. Calabrese was arrested without incident and faces charges of possession and two counts of distribution of child pornography. He is currently held at the Ocean County Jail awaiting a detention hearing.

AppWizard

February 9, 2025

Miami-Dade man accused of sharing child sex abuse videos on Kik messenger

A 28-year-old man named Juan Carlos Montejo Jr. was arrested in Miami-Dade County for distributing videos of child sexual abuse, following an investigation initiated by a tip from the Broward Sheriff’s Office. The investigation began in July after detectives found that Montejo had uploaded videos depicting the abuse of young girls, some under three years old, via the messaging app Kik. Surveillance on his residence led to his arrest on Monday evening. Montejo faces four felony charges related to the possession of child sexual abuse material and is currently held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center with a bond set at ,000.