Telegram CEO Archives

AppWizard

August 29, 2024

Telegram CEO Durov faces preliminary charges in France of allowing crime on messaging app

French authorities have filed preliminary charges against Pavel Durov, CEO of Telegram, related to alleged criminal activities on the platform, including distributing child sexual abuse material and facilitating drug trafficking. Durov was arrested at Le Bourget airport near Paris and released after four days of questioning. The charges could result in a decade-long prison sentence and significant fines. Notably, he faces a charge for "complicity in managing an online platform to allow illicit transactions by an organized group." Durov, who also has French citizenship, denies any wrongdoing. He holds passports from the UAE and St. Kitts and Nevis, and the UAE Foreign Ministry is monitoring the case. Telegram has stated its commitment to comply with EU laws and industry standards in content moderation.

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 29, 2024

Telegram CEO charged in France for ‘allowing criminal activity’ on messaging app

Pavel Durov, the head of Telegram, has been charged by the French judiciary for allegedly allowing criminal activities on the platform, including complicity in the dissemination of sexual images of minors. He was arrested at Le Bourget airport near Paris and was released on bail set at €5 million, with the condition that he reports to a police station twice a week. Durov, a 39-year-old Russian-born billionaire with French citizenship, is part of a broader investigation into Telegram's moderation practices regarding illicit content. Telegram claims compliance with EU laws and defends its moderation efforts. Durov, who resides in Dubai and holds citizenship in both France and the UAE, has faced scrutiny for Telegram's alleged use by criminal organizations, despite asserting that child abuse material and public calls for violence are "red lines." His low public profile contrasts with other tech executives, and while some Russian officials suggest his arrest may be politically motivated, French President Emmanuel Macron has denied such claims.

AppWizard

August 27, 2024

Telegram CEO arrest: What you need to know

Pavel Durov, CEO of Telegram, was detained at Le Bourget airport in France amid allegations related to fraud, drug trafficking, organized crime, promotion of terrorism, and cyber-bullying, with no formal charges disclosed. Telegram claims Durov has "nothing to hide" and asserts compliance with EU regulations. The Russian embassy in Paris is seeking clarification on his arrest. Support for Durov has surfaced from public figures, including Elon Musk and Vitalik Buterin. Following the news, the value of toncoin, Telegram's cryptocurrency, dropped by approximately 13%.

AppWizard

August 26, 2024

Telegram Ban In India? Messenger App Under Investigation Over Extortion, Gambling

The Indian government is investigating the messaging platform Telegram due to concerns about its use in illegal activities like extortion and gambling. The inquiry, conducted by the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, may lead to a potential ban on the app. Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov was arrested in Paris on August 24, linked to a search warrant from France's Office for Minors regarding allegations of fraud, drug trafficking, cyberbullying, organized crime, and promoting terrorism. Telegram is popular in Russia and other former Soviet states, aiming to reach a billion users while facing scrutiny for facilitating illicit activities and lacking adequate content moderation. The platform has played a significant role in information dissemination during the Ukraine conflict, serving various political figures.

AppWizard

August 25, 2024

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov Arrested In France Over ‘Offences’ Related To Messaging App

Pavel Durov, the CEO of Telegram, was arrested at Le Bourget Airport in Paris by French authorities under a warrant related to alleged offenses associated with the messaging service. Durov, originally from Russia and based in the United Arab Emirates, was detained upon arrival from Azerbaijan. The arrest was carried out by the anti-fraud office under French customs. Telegram, which has over 900 million active monthly users, is known for its privacy features and has been involved in controversies, including the sharing of copyrighted material. In recent months, the platform has seen a surge in popularity, with 36.7 million monthly downloads.

AppWizard

August 25, 2024

Telegram messaging app CEO Pavel Durov arrested in France, news reports say

Pavel Durov, the CEO of Telegram, was arrested at Bourget airport near Paris while traveling from Azerbaijan on his private plane. His arrest is linked to a French warrant connected to a preliminary investigation into Telegram's moderation practices. This investigation raises concerns about insufficient moderation allowing criminal activities on the platform. Telegram is widely used in regions like Russia and Ukraine and aims to reach 1 billion users within a year. Following Durov's arrest, Russia's embassy in France has not been contacted for clarification, and Russian officials have criticized the actions of France. Protests have been called for outside French embassies globally in response to the incident.

AppWizard

July 24, 2024

Telegram App Flaw Exploited to Spread Malware Hidden in Videos

Cyber criminals are taking advantage of the popular Telegram-based cryptocurrency game Hamster Kombat for monetary gain. They are distributing a malicious Android trojan called Ratel through an unofficial Telegram channel, impersonating the game and gaining control of compromised devices via SMS. The success of Hamster Kombat has attracted malicious actors who are deploying malware targeting players of the game. Additionally, malicious APK files targeting Android devices, such as BadPack, are being used to install malicious artifacts without raising any red flags.

AppWizard

May 15, 2024

Telegram CEO claims rival Signal has ties to US government

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov raised concerns about Signal's security measures, questioning the integrity of its encryption and potential ties to US intelligence due to funding origins and shared encryption technology with other platforms. Durov also criticized WhatsApp for not making its code publicly available and highlighted issues with the reproducibility of the iOS version of Signal. These criticisms come as Durov hints at a potential initial public offering for Telegram.