French authorities have escalated their actions against Telegram, issuing arrest warrants for both CEO Pavel Durov and his co-founder brother, Nikolai Durov, on March 25, 2024. This development is part of a secretive investigation that has been ongoing for several months, as revealed in official documents from French law enforcement reviewed by the media.
The investigation centers around Telegram’s refusal to cooperate with French police in a case involving the sexual abuse of minors. The Durov brothers are accused of “complicity in the possession, distribution, offering, or providing access to pornographic images of minors as part of an organized group.” The cybercrime unit of the Paris prosecutor’s office is leading the investigation.
French media previously reported that this probe was initiated in July, but details have only now come to light, raising significant concerns about the implications for digital privacy and freedom of speech.