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Telegram founder Pavel Durov is banned from leaving France as authorities place him under official investigation as part of an investigation into crimes in the messaging app.
Mr Durov, 39, was released on bail on Wednesday after four days of questioning after being detained at Le Bourget airport outside Paris on Saturday.
Telegram’s chief executive was released under court supervision on the condition that he pay a deposit of €5m, report twice a week to the police and not leave the country.
Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said in a statement that the judge found there was reason to officially investigate Mr. Durov on all charges that he was first arrested four days ago.
They include suspected involvement in online platforms that allow illegal transactions, images of child sex abuse, drug trafficking and fraud, as well as refusal to submit information to authorities, money laundering and providing cryptographic services to criminals.
Being included in an official investigation in France does not indicate guilt or the need for a trial, but it does indicate that the judge thinks there is enough evidence to proceed with the investigation. Investigations can last for years before a trial or arrest.
Mr. Durov’s lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but after Telegram’s arrest stated: “It is absolutely absurd to claim that the platform or its owner is responsible for the abuse of the platform. Almost a billion global users use Telegram as a means of communication and as a source of important information. We are waiting for a quick resolution of this situation. Telegram with you all.”
The platform added that it complies with EU legislation, and that moderation is “at industry standards and continues to improve”.
Russian government officials have expressed outrage at Mr. Durov’s arrest, with some citing political motivation and evidence of Western double standards on freedom of speech. The objection raised eyebrows among Kremlin critics: in 2018 the Russian authorities themselves tried to block Telegram but failed, lifting the ban in 2020.
Elsewhere, Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of X who calls himself “absolute free speech”, has spoken of his support for Mr Durov and posted “#freePavel” after his arrest.
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that Mr Durov’s arrest was not a political move but part of an independent investigation.
Mr Macron posted on X, formerly Twitter, that his country is “very committed” to freedom of expression but “freedom is upheld within the legal framework, in social media and in real life, to protect citizens and respect fundamental rights”.
Telegram will have 950 million active users by July 2024, according to Mr. Durov, making it the fourth most popular messaging platform in the world behind WhatsApp, WeChat and Facebook Messenger.
The Russian exile rarely gives media interviews but often shares updates and personal insights through his Telegram channel, which has more than 11 million subscribers.
The tech billionaire has been described as Russia’s Mark Zuckerberg for his role in founding the social media platform VK. He was forced to leave the company in 2014 after refusing to comply with government requests to share details of protesters, who were active on the site.
He continued to run Telegram from Dubai, after obtaining dual citizenship from the UAE and France, and traveled regularly throughout Asia, the Middle East and Europe before his arrest on Friday.
The app is controversial, having been used by everyone from Isis to the new British rioters, who organize and share information in private groups. Telegram said that “calls for violence” are expressly prohibited and channels containing such channels will be deleted.
