French prosecutors allege Durov conspired to allow the Telegram platform to be used for illegal transactions in organized criminal activity, refusal to cooperate with authorities and involvement in the distribution of child sexual abuse material.
As a result, Durov was banned from leaving France and required to report to the police twice a week and pay a $5.6 million deposit to the authorities.
This development has sparked a debate about freedom of expression and accountability of social media platform owners.
Tech industry figures like Elon Musk have voiced support for Durov and criticized what they see as overreach by authorities.
Critics argue that Telegram's modest standards are insufficient to deal with serious offenses such as child exploitation.
Telegram's management insists it complies with industry standards and European digital regulations.
This case is a rare instance where a social media executive is targeted for platform abuse in contrast to the more common scenario where executives are questioned in front of lawmakers on policy and security issues.
Telegram remains a popular social media player in Russia, Ukraine and the Middle East, with over 950 million registered users.
