Paris—The Paris Prosecutor's Office announced on Friday that French and Belgian investigators are jointly pursuing Telegram and its CEO, Pavel Durov.
The French prosecutors have initiated an investigation into the accusations against this Russian-born tech mogul, including involvement in managing an online platform "to facilitate illegal transactions by organized groups," and refusing to cooperate with law enforcement agencies.
The joint investigation team is set up under the framework of Eurojust, the European Union's judicial cooperation unit, aimed at allowing countries to "directly exchange information and evidence, cooperate in real time, and conduct joint operations."
On August 24, Durov was arrested upon his arrival in Paris, shocking the world. Previously, Telegram had been under investigation for months for its reluctance to cooperate with authorities on issues such as child abuse. Known for its staunch privacy protection, the messaging platform has become the preferred choice for criminals, political adversaries, and military leaders.
A French administrative document first seen by POLITICO stated that investigators had contacted their European counterparts, but they confirmed the platform's unwillingness to cooperate.
The Paris Prosecutor's Office confirmed the charges against Durov on August 28, stating, "After consultation, other French investigative bodies... and various partners of the European judicial organization (especially Belgium) hold the same view regarding Telegram's actions."
The French prosecutor stated that the Belgian Federal Prosecutor's Office has also investigated "Telegram's almost complete non-response to legal demands."
A month after his arrest, Durov announced that Telegram had updated its privacy policy to indicate that it might disclose suspects' IP addresses and phone numbers upon receiving orders from relevant judicial authorities.
