child pornography

AppWizard

April 25, 2025

Feds say Ashland man had child porn on Telegram Messenger app. What’s next

Brent Vreeland, a 36-year-old resident of Ashland, has agreed to voluntary detention after a federal hearing on April 24, facing charges related to the distribution of child pornography via the Telegram Messenger app. He has been charged with one count of transportation of child pornography following an investigation that began last October. Vreeland was apprehended at his home after arriving at Logan International Airport in Boston from Reykjavik, Iceland. During a secondary screening, security personnel found suspected child pornography on his phone, leading to an alert for federal investigators. The investigation revealed that Vreeland had conversations on Telegram soliciting content involving minors and sent a video featuring a child as young as four years old to another user, with authorities discovering 30 media files depicting children in his direct messages. If convicted, he faces a potential sentence of five to 20 years in federal prison, a 0,000 fine, and lifetime supervised release. He was ordered to be held without bail during his initial hearing.

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 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 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

November 15, 2024

Court records: Kanawha Co. man charged after sharing explicit videos of children on app

Dale Adam Barbour Jr., a 23-year-old resident of South Charleston, has been charged with the distribution of child pornography after an investigation revealed he shared explicit videos of minors on the Kik Messenger app. Authorities, acting on a tip, obtained a search warrant for the Kik application, which led to the discovery of ten videos depicting children in sexual acts. Barbour faces one count of felony distribution and exhibiting material that portrays minors in explicit conduct.

AppWizard

August 29, 2024

Telegram CEO allowed ‘child pornography’, drug trafficking on app: French court | Today News

On August 29, France charged Telegram's CEO, Pavel Durov, with serious violations including facilitating the distribution of child pornography, enabling drug trafficking, and engaging in fraudulent activities. Durov was arrested on August 24 at Le Bourget airport and released after four days under the condition that he remain in France and report to police bi-weekly. He faces allegations of complicity in managing an online platform for illicit transactions by an organized group. Telegram has stated that the claims are "absurd" and that Durov has "nothing to hide." Additionally, Durov is under investigation for alleged serious acts of violence towards one of his children during a visit to Paris.

AppWizard

August 29, 2024

Telegram CEO Durov charged with several crimes related to messaging app in France

Pavel Durov, CEO and co-founder of Telegram, faced serious charges in a French court on August 28, including complicity in the distribution of sexual images of children and drug trafficking. Paris prosecutor Laure Beccou announced sufficient grounds for a formal investigation into twelve charges against Durov, which include managing an online platform for illegal transactions, child pornography, drug trafficking, fraud, failure to provide information to authorities, money laundering, and providing cryptographic services to criminals. Durov was arrested at Le Bourget airport on August 24 and granted bail under conditions including a €5 million payment and bi-weekly police reporting. He acquired French citizenship in 2021 and reportedly resides in Dubai. France had issued arrest warrants for Durov and his brother Nikolai in March, and the investigation into Telegram began several months before the public charges. Durov has a net worth estimated at .5 billion and left Russia in 2014 after resisting government demands. Despite claiming exile, he has returned to Russia over sixty times since then. Telegram is widely used in Ukraine, with 44% of Ukrainians utilizing it for news and information according to a September 2023 poll.

AppWizard

August 27, 2024

What is Telegram and how does it work? The controversial messaging app founded by Pavel Durov

Pavel Durov, co-founder of Telegram, was arrested in France related to an investigation into crimes involving child pornography, drug trafficking, and fraudulent transactions. Telegram, launched in 2013, has over 950 million monthly active users and offers free messaging, voice, and video calls. It features group chats and channels that can have large memberships, with group chats accommodating up to 200,000 members and channels having unlimited subscribers. While Telegram uses encryption for chats and calls, end-to-end encryption (E2EE) is only available for one-on-one Secret Chats, not for group chats or channels. Telegram has faced bans in several countries, including Russia, Iran, Pakistan, Indonesia, Brazil, and Spain, often due to political or security issues.

AppWizard

August 26, 2024

France’s Macron says arrest of the head of the Telegram messaging app wasn’t political

French President Emmanuel Macron stated that the arrest of Pavel Durov, CEO of Telegram, was not politically motivated. Durov was detained at Le Bourget airport as part of a judicial investigation into 12 criminal violations, including child pornography, drug trafficking, fraud, and failing to comply with legal requests from investigators. His detention has been extended until Monday night, with a possible prolongation until Wednesday. Durov holds citizenship in Russia, France, the United Arab Emirates, and St. Kitts and Nevis. The Russian officials have reacted with outrage, suggesting the arrest is politically motivated. Telegram, founded by Durov, has nearly a billion users and claims compliance with EU laws. Durov's detention is subject to French law, allowing for up to four days of holding before charges or release. The Russian Embassy in Paris has reported denied access to Durov. Elon Musk showed support for Durov with a "#freePavel" post. Telegram has previously faced scrutiny and fines from various governments for its content moderation practices.