Prosecutors in France said Telegram founder Pavel Durov was arrested in connection with a cybercrime and anti-fraud investigation into illegal activity on the platform and refusing to cooperate with law enforcement.
Durov’s arrest, according to prosecutor Laure Beccuau, was part of an inquiry opened on July 8 “against person unnamed” involving potential charges such as aiding in the distribution of child sexual abuse material, money laundering, and selling illegal drugs.