• Education
    • Higher Education
    • Scholarships & Grants
    • Online Learning
    • School Reforms
    • Research & Innovation
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Fashion & Beauty
    • Home & Living
    • Relationships & Family
  • Technology & Startups
    • Software & Apps
    • Startup Success Stories
    • Startups & Innovations
    • Tech Regulations
    • Venture Capital
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Cybersecurity
    • Emerging Technologies
    • Gadgets & Devices
    • Industry Analysis
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Advertise with Us
  • Privacy & Policy
Today Headline
  • Home
  • World News
    • Us & Canada
    • Europe
    • Asia
    • Africa
    • Middle East
  • Politics
    • Elections
    • Political Parties
    • Government Policies
    • International Relations
    • Legislative News
  • Business & Finance
    • Market Trends
    • Stock Market
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Corporate News
    • Economic Policies
  • Science & Environment
    • Space Exploration
    • Climate Change
    • Wildlife & Conservation
    • Environmental Policies
    • Medical Research
  • Health
    • Public Health
    • Mental Health
    • Medical Breakthroughs
    • Fitness & Nutrition
    • Pandemic Updates
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Tennis
    • Olympics
    • Motorsport
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Music
    • TV & Streaming
    • Celebrity News
    • Awards & Festivals
  • Crime & Justice
    • Court Cases
    • Cybercrime
    • Policing
    • Criminal Investigations
    • Legal Reforms
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • World News
    • Us & Canada
    • Europe
    • Asia
    • Africa
    • Middle East
  • Politics
    • Elections
    • Political Parties
    • Government Policies
    • International Relations
    • Legislative News
  • Business & Finance
    • Market Trends
    • Stock Market
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Corporate News
    • Economic Policies
  • Science & Environment
    • Space Exploration
    • Climate Change
    • Wildlife & Conservation
    • Environmental Policies
    • Medical Research
  • Health
    • Public Health
    • Mental Health
    • Medical Breakthroughs
    • Fitness & Nutrition
    • Pandemic Updates
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Tennis
    • Olympics
    • Motorsport
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Music
    • TV & Streaming
    • Celebrity News
    • Awards & Festivals
  • Crime & Justice
    • Court Cases
    • Cybercrime
    • Policing
    • Criminal Investigations
    • Legal Reforms
No Result
View All Result
Today Headline
No Result
View All Result
Home World News

Telegram boss admits ‘seriousness’ of French allegations: source

January 18, 2025
in World News
Reading Time: 4 mins read
A A
0
Download app from appStore
6
SHARES
12
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter


Telegram founder Pavel Durov has told investigating magistrates in France, where he is charged with multiple infractions linked to enabling organised crime, that he “realised the seriousness of all the allegations”, according to a source close to the case.

Extracts from Durov’s questioning in December through an interpreter after his August arrest, seen by AFP, show that he initially blamed French authorities for failing to alert Telegram to alleged criminal activity.

“My location and my personal Telegram account were known to the French authorities” including “the president’s office and the French consul in Dubai”, Durov said, also mentioning “an agent with the DGSI”, France’s domestic intelligence service.

He claimed that the agent said Paris was satisfied with Telegram’s cooperation, but that other investigating services had used “the wrong email addresses” to report suspected crimes on the platform.

The 40-year-old added that he had done his “best” to take “appropriate” action to address such reports.

On December 6, during his first in-depth questioning, Durov nevertheless admitted that “it was while I was held in custody that I realised the seriousness of all the allegations”.

– Not created ‘for criminals’ –

The messaging service Durov founded with his brother in 2013 “was not created to be a platform for criminals”, he said.

“Its growing popularity, the overall increase in the number of our users, meant that the number using Telegram for criminal purposes also increased,” added the Saint Petersburg-born billionaire.

Durov possesses multiple passports including a French one, although he does not speak the language, claiming to have been granted the nationality by President Emmanuel Macron.

When judges asked whether Telegram checked users’ identities or documents, Durov responded: “No”.

“I think that’s the case for all messaging services,” he added.

Durov also said that encryption of certain Telegram messages was “standard for the industry” – adding that it was intended to prevent Telegram itself gaining access to users’ messages and to prevent a data leak.

Investigators confronted Durov during his custody with more than a dozen specific cases, ranging from child abuse to drug trading, scams, arms sales and the hiring of hitmen.

It is these crimes, in some cases organised, that are at the root of the complicity charges against the platform boss.

Durov said that he “disagreed” with the judges’ claim that Telegram’s ease of use made it much more practical for organised criminals than alternatives such as the dark web.

– ‘Effective’ measures –

Its “effective” measures against criminal abuse helped remove 15 to 20 million user accounts and up to two million channels or groups from the service each month, he said.

Instead, Durov again blamed legal authorities or associations for failing to correctly report alleged criminal activity.

One such association, the American National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), told investigators it had made 400 reports to Telegram in 2023 alone.

Durov acknowledged the contacts, saying Telegram had struck deals with both the US group and a British equivalent.

Mentioning both the direct reports and media reporting on abuse of the platform, investigators asked why Durov had not intervened before he was actually arrested.

He responded that there was “never anything solid” in the newspapers.

Magistrates especially pressed Durov on Telegram’s “People Nearby” feature, which was disactivated following his arrest.

People were suspected of using it to provide illegal services using geolocalisation, such as supplying drugs or pimping.

“In most countries, this function is used for good purposes, not for illegal ones,” Durov said.

One magistrate responded: “France might be unique in terms of gastronomy, but certainly not in matters of criminality.”

Dubai-based Telegram announced its first-ever annual profit in December.

But Durov told investigators that it was labouring under a $2 billion load of debt.

Nevertheless, “we are committed to improving our moderation processes,” he vowed, echoing a promise he made publicly in September to work more closely with authorities.

Data provided by Telegram suggest that it handed over vastly more data on users to national authorities in the third and fourth quarter of 2024 – covering the time of and the immediate aftermath of Durov’s arrest.

“My teams have made a lot of progress,” offering up identifying information about “more than 10,000 users” in the first six months of last year, Durov said. The platform claims to have 950 million registered accounts.

Durov is set to face further questioning by magistrates probing his claims about how moderation and content removal works on Telegram.

gd-tgb/jh/rlp

Tags: French authoritiesPavel DurovTelegram
Previous Post

He’s a high-powered lawyer. And the world’s biggest Theodor Herzl fan

Next Post

Colombian government suspends talks with left-wing rebels after clashes

Related Posts

Russia’s war on Ukraine intensifies as peace talks appear at dead end

Russia’s war on Ukraine intensifies as peace talks appear at dead end

June 5, 2025
4
Why are fire-related deaths higher in Indigenous communities? - Montreal

Why are fire-related deaths higher in Indigenous communities? – Montreal

June 5, 2025
4
Next Post
Colombian government suspends talks with left-wing rebels after clashes

Colombian government suspends talks with left-wing rebels after clashes

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Family calls for change after B.C. nurse dies by suicide after attacks on the job

Family calls for change after B.C. nurse dies by suicide after attacks on the job

April 2, 2025
Pioneering 3D printing project shares successes

Product reduces TPH levels to non-hazardous status

November 27, 2024

Hospital Mergers Fail to Deliver Better Care or Lower Costs, Study Finds todayheadline

December 31, 2024

Police ID man who died after Corso Italia fight

December 23, 2024
Harris tells supporters 'never give up' and urges peaceful transfer of power

Harris tells supporters ‘never give up’ and urges peaceful transfer of power

0
Des Moines Man Accused Of Shooting Ex-Girlfriend's Mother

Des Moines Man Accused Of Shooting Ex-Girlfriend’s Mother

0

Trump ‘looks forward’ to White House meeting with Biden

0
Catholic voters were critical to Donald Trump’s blowout victory: ‘Harris snubbed us’

Catholic voters were critical to Donald Trump’s blowout victory: ‘Harris snubbed us’

0
Russia’s war on Ukraine intensifies as peace talks appear at dead end

Russia’s war on Ukraine intensifies as peace talks appear at dead end

June 5, 2025

Vermilion Energy to sell US assets for $120 million

June 5, 2025
Why are fire-related deaths higher in Indigenous communities? - Montreal

Why are fire-related deaths higher in Indigenous communities? – Montreal

June 5, 2025
Dubai Municipality designates beaches for families

Dubai Municipality designates beaches for families

June 5, 2025

Recent News

Russia’s war on Ukraine intensifies as peace talks appear at dead end

Russia’s war on Ukraine intensifies as peace talks appear at dead end

June 5, 2025
4

Vermilion Energy to sell US assets for $120 million

June 5, 2025
4
Why are fire-related deaths higher in Indigenous communities? - Montreal

Why are fire-related deaths higher in Indigenous communities? – Montreal

June 5, 2025
4
Dubai Municipality designates beaches for families

Dubai Municipality designates beaches for families

June 5, 2025
3

TodayHeadline is a dynamic news website dedicated to delivering up-to-date and comprehensive news coverage from around the globe.

Follow Us

Browse by Category

  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Basketball
  • Business & Finance
  • Climate Change
  • Crime & Justice
  • Cybersecurity
  • Economic Policies
  • Elections
  • Entertainment
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Environmental Policies
  • Europe
  • Football
  • Gadgets & Devices
  • Health
  • Medical Research
  • Mental Health
  • Middle East
  • Motorsport
  • Olympics
  • Politics
  • Public Health
  • Relationships & Family
  • Science & Environment
  • Software & Apps
  • Space Exploration
  • Sports
  • Stock Market
  • Technology & Startups
  • Tennis
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized
  • Us & Canada
  • Wildlife & Conservation
  • World News

Recent News

Russia’s war on Ukraine intensifies as peace talks appear at dead end

Russia’s war on Ukraine intensifies as peace talks appear at dead end

June 5, 2025

Vermilion Energy to sell US assets for $120 million

June 5, 2025
  • Education
  • Lifestyle
  • Technology & Startups
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Advertise with Us
  • Privacy & Policy

© 2024 Todayheadline.co

Welcome Back!

OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Business & Finance
  • Corporate News
  • Economic Policies
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Market Trends
  • Crime & Justice
  • Court Cases
  • Criminal Investigations
  • Cybercrime
  • Legal Reforms
  • Policing
  • Education
  • Higher Education
  • Online Learning
  • Entertainment
  • Awards & Festivals
  • Celebrity News
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Health
  • Fitness & Nutrition
  • Medical Breakthroughs
  • Mental Health
  • Pandemic Updates
  • Lifestyle
  • Fashion & Beauty
  • Food & Drink
  • Home & Living
  • Politics
  • Elections
  • Government Policies
  • International Relations
  • Legislative News
  • Political Parties
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Middle East
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Cybersecurity
  • Emerging Technologies
  • Gadgets & Devices
  • Industry Analysis
  • Basketball
  • Football
  • Motorsport
  • Olympics
  • Climate Change
  • Environmental Policies
  • Medical Research
  • Science & Environment
  • Space Exploration
  • Wildlife & Conservation
  • Sports
  • Tennis
  • Technology & Startups
  • Software & Apps
  • Startup Success Stories
  • Startups & Innovations
  • Tech Regulations
  • Venture Capital
  • Uncategorized
  • World News
  • Us & Canada
  • Public Health
  • Relationships & Family
  • Travel
  • Research & Innovation
  • Scholarships & Grants
  • School Reforms
  • Stock Market
  • TV & Streaming
  • Advertise with Us
  • Privacy & Policy
  • About us
  • Contact

© 2024 Todayheadline.co