The arrest was part of an ongoing investigation into alleged cyber and financial crimes on the messaging platform. Durov's release came after a four-day interrogation by French police, according to reports by French news outlet Figaro and a judicial source from Reuters.
The Russian-born tech mogul's arrest and subsequent release were reported by Fox Business. Durov was transferred to an investigative judge who will determine whether there is sufficient evidence to formally investigate him. This decision is expected to be made later on Wednesday. It is important to note that such investigations can span years before they are either sent to trial or dismissed.
In a surprising twist, a report by the Wall Street Journal revealed that Durov's iPhone was hacked in 2017 in a joint operation by France and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This operation, codenamed "Purple Music," occurred approximately a year before Durov had lunch with French President Emmanuel Macron. During this meeting, the possibility of Durov becoming a French citizen was discussed.
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This luncheon was one of several meetings Macron had with tech entrepreneurs. In 2021, Durov was granted citizenship in both France and the UAE, with the latter investing over $75 million into his platform that same year. The hacking operation was reportedly initiated due to concerns from French security officials about the Islamic State's use of Telegram for recruitment and attack planning.
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A former French intelligence official from France’s General Directorate for Internal Security revealed that compromising Telegram was a long-term goal of the country’s spy services. However, the official did not comment on the alleged hacking operation against Durov. The duration of the hacking on Durov's phone remains unclear.
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Durov, who launched the encrypted messaging service Telegram in 2013, has amassed a net worth of approximately $15.5 billion, according to Forbes. The app, now based in the UAE where Durov resides, boasts over 900 million monthly active users. Durov also holds citizenship in the Caribbean island nation of Saint Kitts and Nevis.
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Telegram has faced criticism from various governments seeking to curb the spread of misinformation or information critical of governments. The app has played a significant role in disseminating information about the Russia-Ukraine war, with authorities from both sides using its channels to broadcast their narratives about the conflict.
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Born in Soviet Leningrad, Durov graduated from St. Petersburg State University and left Russia in 2014 after refusing government orders to shut down opposition communities on his former social media platform, VK. He was arrested on Saturday at Le Bourget airport outside Paris after reportedly landing on a private jet from Azerbaijan. His arrest sparked immediate backlash from free speech advocates, including tech billionaire Elon Musk and former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
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Despite the controversy surrounding his arrest, French President Emmanuel Macron insisted that the detainment was not politically motivated. The Paris prosecutor’s office stated that the suspected violations include complicity in selling child pornography and in drug trafficking, fraud, abetting organized crime transactions, and refusing to share information or documents with investigators when required by law. However, it did not specify which crime or crimes Durov might be suspected of.
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Jean-Michel Bernigaud, secretary general of OFMIN, a French police agency tasked with preventing violence against minors, linked Durov's arrest to allegations of the platform not adequately moderating content related to child sex crimes. Despite Durov's 2018 meeting with Macron, French authorities have long viewed Telegram with suspicion. They have been proactive in regulating online platforms, rooting out information they perceive as fueling antisemitism and racism, and tackling illegal commerce on these platforms.
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This year, the European Union approved the Digital Services Act, which mandates online platforms to intensify their efforts in policing the internet for illegal content. Companies that violate the Digital Services Act or the Digital Markets Act face fines of up to 10% and 6% of their annual global turnover, respectively.
