Telegram CEO Released From French Custody
Four days after Telegram’s CEO was arrested at an airport outside Paris, French authorities have released Pavel Durov.
The AP reported that prosecutors in Paris have ordered Durov, who has French citizenship, to appear before a judge to face a possible indictment. French authorities say they are investigating illegal activities on the messaging app, including drug trafficking and child sexual abuse material.
Separately, The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that French spies in 2017 attempted to hack Durov’s iPhone due to their concern over the use of Telegram by terrorists to recruit operatives and coordinate attacks. The story also said that in past years Telegram ignored subpoenas and other legal orders, which accumulated in a company email inbox that Telegram didn’t monitor closely.