France charges Telegram CEO Pavel Durov with child pornography, drug crimes

France on Thursday brought charges against Telegram chief executive Pavel Durov, accusing him of offenses involving the messaging app, such as permitting child pornography and drug trafficking. French authorities prohibited Durov from departing the country after he was released on bail.

The French investigation centres on Telegram’s complicity in several crimes, including operating an online platform that facilitated the organised distribution of child pornography, drug trafficking, and fraud, according to prosecutor Laure Beccuau.