France charges Telegram CEO over illegal activity on app

French authorities charged Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov with serious crimes on Wednesday, accusing him of enabling criminal activity on the app, including child pornography, illegal drugs and hacking software.

Durov, detained at Paris’ Le Bourget airport last Saturday, is also charged with non-cooperation with investigations.

The Russia-born tech entrepreneur is under court monitoring and cannot leave France. He must also post bail of 5 million euros (more than $5.5 million) and report to the police twice weekly. He faces up to 10 years in prison and a 500,000 euro fine if convicted.

Meanwhile, Durov’s arrest has sparked controversy. Critics argue it reflects political bias and concerns over freedom of speech. Telegram serves nearly one billion users worldwide.