French investigators have once again summoned Telegram founder Pavel Durov for questioning. On July 8, he spent about six hours at the Paris Judicial Tribunal. This is the fourth time the entrepreneur has been interrogated in a case concerning alleged complicity in criminal activity through the messenger, since charges were filed nearly two years ago.
Let me recap the timeline of events: Durov was detained at a Paris airport on August 24, 2024. A few days later, the court released him on bail of 5 million euros. Since then, the Telegram founder has been under judicial supervision, and investigators are trying to determine what role the platform played in its use for criminal purposes. The main complaints from authorities are weak moderation of illegal content and insufficient cooperation with the investigation.
However, according to the defense, law enforcement has so far failed to find convincing evidence supporting the validity of the charges. Durov's lawyers have already filed appeals with French and European judicial bodies.
In a comment, Telegram representatives noted that the only real change since Durov's detention is that French authorities have begun properly drafting requests to the messenger. Previously, the Telegram founder himself called his arrest a "legal absurdity," emphasizing that the investigation had not uncovered evidence of his guilt or violations by the platform.
Expert commentary: This case is becoming increasingly indicative for the entire crypto industry. French authorities are clearly trying to create a precedent that would call into question the principles of decentralization and privacy. However, the lack of evidence after nearly two years is a strong argument that the case has more of a political background than a legal basis. We are following developments — this could set the tone for the regulation of messengers and decentralized platforms worldwide.