France uses cryptography law to charge Telegram CEO

The use of a 2004 cryptography law to charge Pavel Durov has unsettled the tech industry. 

France’s dramatic arrest of the Telegram CEO demonstrates that European investigators are ready to use their full authority to combat online child sexual abuse and drug trafficking, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

However, the article notes, it’s the two lesser-known charges that have stirred significant concern within the tech sector: Durov is facing allegations of failing to cooperate with French authorities regarding his encrypted messaging services.

Durov has a total of six charges, according to his arrest warrant dated 28 August. Two of them accuse the Russian-born tech entrepreneur of providing encrypted technology services “without a certified declaration” and of importing an encrypted messaging app “without prior declaration.” Unlike the charges related to permitting illegal content to circulate, these encryption-related charges have surprised many, given the common use of encrypted messaging apps like WhatsApp, Signal, and Apple’s iMessage.

 “This is economic suicide and is rapidly and permanently changing the perception of founders and investors,” Andy Yen, CEO of the privacy-friendly tech provider Proton, wrote on X shortly after the charges were made public.

Notably, the situation surrounding Pavel Durov and Telegram illustrates the delicate balance between preserving user freedoms while also protecting against the misuse of those platforms. As regulations evolve and expectations grow, tech leaders must navigate their responsibilities in moderation and compliance with a greater awareness of the implications of their policies.