Pavel Durov Defies French Investigation Amid Telegram's Web3 Expansion

Telegram founder Pavel Durov has publicly challenged a French criminal investigation against him, calling it “legally and logically absurd.” In a post on the platform on Sunday, Durov argued that his arrest in August was “unprecedented” and unjust, emphasizing that tech CEOs should not be held responsible for the actions of independent users [1]. He noted that after a year of investigation, French authorities had failed to find any wrongdoing by him or Telegram, and reiterated that the platform adheres to industry-standard content moderation practices and complies with all legally binding requests [1].

Durov described the requirement to report to French authorities every two weeks as a “weird detention” that has damaged France’s reputation as a free country [1]. Under court restrictions, he is only allowed to travel to Dubai—where Telegram is headquartered—for a maximum of 14 consecutive days and must notify a judge in advance. Any other travel requires separate authorization [1]. French prosecutors have accused Telegram of insufficient content moderation, while critics argue the arrest threatens free speech and digital rights [1].

Despite the legal pressure, Durov reaffirmed Telegram’s stance on user privacy, stating the company will not compromise encryption keys or create backdoors. He also said Telegram would exit any jurisdiction that enforces censorship [1]. Durov highlighted the platform’s active efforts to remove harmful content and cooperate with NGOs, though the French investigation continues [1].

Meanwhile, Telegram continues to strengthen its presence in the Web3 space through The Open Network (TON). Toncoin (TON), the network’s native token, ranks as the 21st largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization [1]. Recently, Verb Technology, a digital asset treasury firm, rebranded as Ton Strategy Company and now holds more than 8% of Toncoin’s circulating supply. User activity on TON surged after Durov’s arrest, though it has since declined from its peak [1].

Durov’s legal battle underscores a broader global debate over digital content responsibility and regulatory oversight. For Telegram’s nearly one billion users, the outcome may shape how messaging platforms operate in an increasingly regulated digital landscape [1]. French President Emmanuel Macron has denied any political motivation behind the arrest, emphasizing that freedoms must be balanced within a legal framework. However, his comments have faced criticism, with some arguing that government leaders should be held to similar accountability for their own failures [1].

Source: [1] Pavel Durov Challenges French Probe While Telegram Expands Web3 Plans (https://coinmarketcap.com/community/articles/68abe2de2739ae5d5e53ecd4/)