Title: Breaking News: Telegram Founder Pavel Durov Arrested in France, Law Enforcement Accuses Involvement in Cryptocurrency TON, Urgent Response
Original Author: 吴说区块链
According to the report from INFO TF1/LCI in France, Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of the encrypted messaging app Telegram, was arrested around 8 p.m. on Saturday when he disembarked from a private plane at the Le Bourget Airport. The 39-year-old holds dual French and Russian citizenship and was accompanied by his bodyguards and a woman at the time of the arrest.
The arrest was carried out by the Air Transport Gendarmerie (GTA). Pavel Durov is listed in France's FPR (wanted persons file) and had arrived directly from Azerbaijan. He was subject to a French search warrant issued by the OFMIN (command center) of the French National Judicial Police based on a preliminary investigation. Why was he threatened with a search warrant? The authorities believe that Telegram's lack of content moderation, insufficient cooperation with law enforcement, and the tools it provides (such as disposable numbers and cryptocurrencies) make him an accomplice to drug trafficking, child pornography, and fraud.
This search warrant is only valid while Pavel Durov is on French soil. "He made a big mistake tonight. We don't know why… Was this flight just a stopover? Anyway, he got caught!" a source close to the investigation revealed to TF1/LCI. Aware of being unwelcome in France, Pavel Durov is accustomed to traveling between the United Arab Emirates, former Soviet countries, and South America… He rarely visits Europe, especially avoiding countries that monitor Telegram. So what now? Investigators from the ONAF (National Anti-Fraud Office under Customs) notified and placed him in custody. He is expected to be handed over to an examining magistrate on Saturday night and may be formally charged with multiple offenses on Sunday: terrorism, drugs, conspiracy, fraud, money laundering, harboring, child pornography… "Pavel Durov will definitely be temporarily detained," commented an investigator to TF1/LCI. "Countless crimes and illegal activities have occurred on his platform, and he has taken no measures to moderate or cooperate," analyzed a source close to the case.
In fact, there is almost no doubt that he will be temporarily detained after being charged. Pavel Durov is a billionaire with significant resources to flee, and his appearance in court is almost impossible to convince the judge.
This internationally impactful crackdown has multiple objectives for the investigators. Firstly, it can deter and prevent criminals who are still freely communicating on Telegram. Secondly, they hope that this action will pressure European countries to strengthen cooperation and jointly address the terrorism issues of secure communication applications.
Indeed, Telegram is a hotbed of criminal content. Currently, the platform has made headlines for the illegal broadcast of French Ligue 1 matches. However, many organized criminal groups use this encrypted messaging platform. In addition to terrorism, the most dangerous child pornography criminals also use Telegram to communicate and share content. "For years, it has become the number one platform for organized crime," commented an investigator. In Europe, especially in Germany, Telegram is under investigation for violating the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), involving the handling of user data and privacy protection issues. In addition, Telegram's inadequate response to illegal content (such as hate speech, fake news, etc.) has also raised legal issues. Germany has threatened to impose fines of millions of euros on Telegram for failing to comply with local content deletion and reporting mechanisms.
Telegram was launched in 2013 by the Russian brothers Pavel Durov and Nikolai Durov as an encrypted instant messaging application. Pavel Durov was an early founder of the Russian social network VK, but left VK due to conflicts with the Russian government and focused on creating Telegram. The original intention of Telegram was to provide a more private and secure communication platform to counter the invasion of privacy by governments and other entities.
Telegram was released on the iOS platform in August 2013 and the Android version in October of the same year. The application quickly gained widespread attention for its fast, simple, and secure features. One of Telegram's key features is its end-to-end encryption, which ensures the security of user messages during transmission. In addition, Telegram allows the creation of large group chats, channels, and cloud-based storage and transmission.
As of 2024, Telegram's global monthly active users have exceeded 800 million. Telegram users are distributed worldwide, with concentrated user bases in the following regions:
Russia and the CIS countries: As the homeland of its founders, Russia and the CIS countries (including Ukraine, Belarus, etc.) have always been important markets for Telegram. Especially in Russia, due to the government's strict control over the internet and information, Telegram is seen as a tool for free communication.
Middle East: Telegram also has a large number of users in Middle Eastern countries such as Iran and Turkey. In these regions, the encryption feature of Telegram is highly popular due to concerns about government censorship and control. Iran was once one of the largest single markets for Telegram.
India and Southeast Asia: India, as one of the countries with the most internet users globally, is also an important source of growth for Telegram users. Some countries in Southeast Asia (such as Indonesia, Malaysia, etc.) also have a large number of users.
Europe: Both Western European countries (such as Germany, France) and Eastern European countries (such as Ukraine) have a wide user base for Telegram. Many users use Telegram to evade data collection and privacy infringement on traditional social media platforms.
South America: Telegram has gained a significant user base in countries such as Brazil and Argentina, especially among political activists and journalists, where Telegram is widely used as a tool for information dissemination and organization.
The success of Telegram is partly attributed to its commitment to privacy and security, as well as the continuous introduction of new features (such as voice chats, video calls, paid subscriptions, etc.), which have attracted a large number of users globally.
In 2018, Telegram announced plans to develop a blockchain platform called TON, aimed at creating a decentralized internet ecosystem. TON aimed to provide fast and scalable blockchain technology through its native cryptocurrency Gram, supporting various decentralized applications (dApps) and smart contracts. To develop TON, Telegram conducted two rounds of token presales for private investors, raising approximately $1.7 billion. However, the TON project encountered significant legal obstacles in 2019. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a lawsuit, accusing Telegram of illegal financing through an unregistered securities offering, considering the Gram token to be a security and Telegram's failure to register as required. After legal battles with the SEC, Telegram announced in May 2020 that it would abandon the TON project. In a public statement, Pavel Durov stated that Telegram would no longer be involved in TON or any related developments. Telegram also agreed to refund most of the raised funds to investors and pay a $18.5 million fine.
Nevertheless, TON did not disappear and has rapidly developed since 2023, currently ranking among the top ten cryptocurrencies by market value, with a thriving cryptocurrency ecosystem including mini-games and wallets. Telegram has also collaborated extensively with TON. Although there is no apparent connection, Pavel Durov's strong support for TON is undoubtedly the main reason for TON's rapid rise. Whether France's actions will affect the thriving TON ecosystem remains to be seen. TON issued a statement following the recent news about Telegram founder Pavel Durov, assuring everyone that the TON community remains strong and fully operational. As a community dedicated to freedom of speech and decentralization, we firmly support Pavel during this challenging time. Pavel has always been a faithful advocate of these values, and we believe his efforts to promote an open and decentralized internet will continue to inspire millions. The TON community remains focused on our mission, and we will continue to work together to uphold these principles globally. We encourage everyone to stay calm, united, and continue building as we collectively address this situation. Thank you for your ongoing support.
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