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Pavel Durov argued that using “pre-smartphone era” laws to charge a platform’s CEO for crimes allegedly committed by users was misguided. He made the argument on September 6, 2024, after French authorities arrested him and later placed him under formal investigation. It was his defense of how the case should be handled—not a court ruling that French law was outdated or a finding that he was guilty.
What did Durov mean by “pre-smartphone era” laws?
In a Telegram post on September 6, 2024, Durov objected to charging a service’s chief executive over crimes allegedly committed by third parties using the platform. He argued that when a country is unhappy with an internet service, the established practice is to take legal action against the service itself.
“If a country is unhappy with an internet service, the established practice is to start a legal action against the service itself. Using laws from the pre-smartphone era to charge a CEO with crimes committed by third parties on the platform he manages is a misguided approach.”
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That was Durov’s characterization of the prosecution’s approach. It should not be read as a neutral description of French law or as a conclusion reached by a court. Durov’s September 6 statement framed the dispute around who should be held responsible for activity on a platform: its operator as a company, or its CEO personally.
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Why was Pavel Durov arrested in France?
The Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office said Durov, Telegram’s founder and CEO, was arrested at Le Bourget airport on August 24, 2024. In a release dated August 26, prosecutors said the judicial investigation had opened on July 8, after a preliminary inquiry, against an unnamed person.
The prosecutor’s release listed allegations tied to Telegram and its handling of suspected criminal activity. They included alleged complicity in enabling illegal transactions; failure to provide information or documents needed for lawful interceptions; offences involving child sexual abuse material, narcotics and fraud; criminal association and money laundering; and alleged failures to make specified declarations relating to cryptology. These were allegations under investigation, not adjudicated findings. The Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office issued the account on August 26.
What happened after the arrest?
- August 24, 2024: French authorities arrested Durov at Le Bourget airport and took him into custody, according to the prosecutor’s account.
- August 26: The Paris prosecutor publicly described the investigation and the alleged offences.
- August 28: After more than 80 hours in custody, Durov was placed under formal investigation and released under judicial supervision. The reported conditions included a €5 million bond, reporting to police twice a week and a ban on leaving France.
- September 6: Durov published his argument that applying “pre-smartphone era” laws to charge a CEO over third-party conduct was misguided.
Being placed under formal investigation in France does not itself establish guilt or necessarily mean a case will go to trial. Reuters’ August 28 report described Durov’s release conditions and explained the procedural meaning of the investigation.
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Telegram said it abides by EU laws and that its moderation is within industry standards and continually improving. The company also called it absurd to hold a platform or its owner responsible for abuse of the platform. Those are Telegram’s positions; they do not resolve the prosecutor’s separate allegations about alleged failures to respond to lawful requests or other offences. Telegram’s statement set out the company’s response after Durov’s arrest.
What did Durov say later about the case?
Around the first anniversary of his arrest, Durov said the investigation had not found wrongdoing by him or Telegram. He also asserted that Telegram had responded to every legally binding request from France and that French authorities had failed to use the required legal process for earlier requests. Those are Durov’s claims; the available account does not independently verify them or establish the investigation’s procedural status as of September 29, 2026. Durov’s Telegram channel is where he published his statements.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Was Pavel Durov found guilty?
The cited procedural reports describe an investigation and Durov’s placement under formal investigation, not a finding of guilt. The prosecutor’s listed offences are allegations. Neither Durov’s criticism nor Telegram’s defense determines the case’s outcome.
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