France has set its sights on Pavel Durov, the mysterious founder of Telegram. Using a new cybercrime law that’s as untested as it is potent, French prosecutors are pushing the boundaries of holding tech leaders accountable for illegal activities on their platforms.
Enacted in January 2023, the LOPMI law is France’s latest offensive in the battle against online crime. This new legislation packs a punch that could land tech bosses behind bars for up to 10 years and slap them with fines of up to 500,000 euros. What makes LOPMI unique is that it’s the first cybercrime law of its kind globally, penalizing tech titans whose platforms become playgrounds for illegal activities.
Telegram’s Pavel Durov has unfortunately found himself at the center of this legal storm. French judges, convinced they have enough evidence to proceed, have placed Durov under formal investigation. They’re charging him with “complicity in the administration of an online platform to allow an illicit transaction in an organized gang.” It’s a mouthful, we know, but it could spell serious trouble for Durov.
For its part, Telegram isn’t taking this lying down. They’ve fired back, calling the claims “absurd” and asserting that they “abide by EU laws.” Legal experts around the world are watching this case closely. Adam Hickey, a former U.S. deputy assistant attorney general, has pointed out that there’s no equivalent to LOPMI in the U.S. or Western world.
However, not everyone’s convinced. Timothy Howard, who helped put Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht behind bars, is skeptical. He has suggested that in the U.S., prosecutors would need to prove Durov actively facilitated crimes, which is a tall order given Telegram’s vast, mostly law-abiding user base.
As France pushes for a conviction, the tech world watches and waits. There’s a good chance that this move will backfire, and judges will be hesitant to penalize CEOs for the actions of their users. On the off chance that LOPMI works, the wild west days of the internet might finally come to an end.
