Telegram CEO Pavel Durov Arrested By French Police – Will It Impact The TON Ecosystem?

Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of Telegram, has been detained by authorities in France. The detention is connected to a search warrant alleging violations of the encrypted messaging platform.

French media, including Le Monde, reported that Durov was arrested upon arriving from Azerbaijan in his private jet at Le Bourget airport, situated north of Paris. Le Monde’s report, referencing sources familiar with the matter, confirmed Durov’s arrest. 

Bloomberg also highlighted a Telegram post by Maria Zakharova, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman who verified the arrest, adding further validity to the story about the event.

Telegram CEO Under Investigation By French Authorities

French authorities have launched a preliminary investigation into Telegram, the popular messaging platform, with L’Office Mineurs (OFMIN), the agency responsible for monitoring crimes against minors, issuing a search warrant. 

AFP claims that the probe covers a spectrum of claimed misdeeds, including fraud, drug trafficking, cyberbullying, and organized crime activity enabled by the site. The examination results from worries about Telegram’s inadequate content control methods.

Office of Financial Market Integrity (OFMIN) is leading the inquiry against Durov. According to reports, Durov was supposed to appear in court on Aug. 25. Given the gravity of the charges committed, accusations against him might result in a 20-year jail sentence.

The Impact On TON

Third-party blockchain system TON, integrated with Telegram, continues to operate as usual despite Durov’s legal objections. A recent comment on TON’s official X account verified the protocol’s stability and underlined the encouraging reaction of its community under the current circumstances. Telegram has yet to mention the founder’s detention. 

Statement from the TON Community

Following the recent news related to the Telegram’s founder Pavel Durov, we want to assure everyone that the TON community remains strong and fully operational.

As a community committed to freedom of speech and decentralization, we stand firmly…

— TON

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