French prosecutors will charge Telegram CEO Pavel Durov under a strict new law for allowing the spread of illegal products or activities on Telegram. According to Reuters, this new law, named LOPMI, was enacted in January 2023, making France one of the countries taking tougher measures against criminal websites.
However, since the LOPMI law was recently enacted, no one has yet been convicted under this law.
In August, a French judge formally investigated multiple charges against Durov, one of which is a 2023 crime: "conspiring with the online platform he manages to allow organized gangs to trade illegally on the platform," which could result in a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of 500,000 euros (about 720,000 Singapore dollars).
Being formally investigated does not mean that Durov is guilty or will necessarily lead to a trial, but it indicates that the judge believes there is sufficient evidence to continue the investigation, which could last several years before going to court or dropping the charges.
Durov, who holds multiple nationalities including Russian, French, and United Arab Emirates, is currently out on bail. He denies that Telegram is an "anarchist paradise."
Previously, Telegram stated that Telegram "complies with EU laws" and that "it is absurd to claim that Telegram or its owner should be responsible for the platform being misused."
