French prosecutors have placed Pavel Durov, CEO of Telegram, under formal investigation using a stringent new cybercrime law. What Happened: The LOPMI law, enacted in January 2023, criminalizes tech executives whose platforms facilitate illegal activities.

In a Telegram post, Durov defended himself against the French judicial investigation, suggesting that he personally shouldn’t have been targeted.

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov, in his first public comments since being arrested by French authorities, said that Telegram is not an "anarchic paradise" but promised that the platform will enhance its moderation of harmful content.

The co-founder of messaging app Telegram was arrested in Paris last month as part of an investigation into child sexual abuse images, drug trafficking and fraudulent transactions linked to the app.

By Gabriel Stargardter PARIS (Reuters) -When French prosecutors took aim at Telegram boss Pavel Durov, they had a trump card to wield - a tough new law with no international equivalent that criminalises tech titans whose platforms allow illegal products or activities.