Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, was released from police custody in France on Wednesday and transferred to a court for questioning.
Gatekeepers News reports that the 39-year-old Russian-born billionaire was arrested at a Paris airport on Saturday on a warrant related to Telegram’s lack of moderation, which has been linked to various crimes, including fraud, drug trafficking, and child pornography.
Durov’s arrest has sparked a debate over freedom of speech, particularly in Ukraine and Russia, where Telegram is widely used.
French President Emmanuel Macron has denied that the decision to bring charges against Durov is political.
Telegram, launched in 2013, has over 950 million users and is known for its encrypted conversations, making it difficult for law enforcement agencies to monitor user activity.
