Recommended Free Tools
Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov’s first public response after his detention in France came on September 5, 2024. He called the case against him “misguided,” rejected personal responsibility for crimes allegedly committed by users, and acknowledged that Telegram’s rapid growth had created moderation problems he pledged to address. He did not admit the French allegations, and his statement did not resolve the investigation.
What Durov said
Durov said French police questioned him for four days after detaining him at Paris–Le Bourget Airport on August 24, 2024. He said he was surprised to be held personally responsible for illegal activity by third parties on Telegram, arguing that authorities could have contacted the company or its European representative instead. He also said he had helped establish a hotline with French authorities for terrorism-related threats.
His broader argument was that laws formed before the smartphone era should not be applied in a way that makes a platform’s CEO liable for every crime users commit. At the same time, he acknowledged that Telegram’s growth—to roughly 950 million users at the time—had brought “growing pains” in moderation. He said criminals had found it easier to abuse the service and that improving Telegram’s ability to prevent abuse had become a personal goal. He maintained that the platform was not lawless and said Telegram would protect privacy, even if that meant leaving countries where it could not reconcile local rules with its principles.
Why French authorities detained him
The French case was not simply an accusation that Durov personally committed every offense attributed to Telegram users. In an August 28, 2024 statement, the Paris prosecutor’s office said he had been placed under formal investigation on preliminary allegations involving the platform’s alleged role in illicit activity and its response to legal requests. The listed allegations included complicity in administering an online platform allegedly used for illicit transactions; failure to provide information or documents required for legally authorized interceptions; and alleged complicity relating to child sexual-abuse material, drug trafficking, fraud, and organized criminal activity. Prosecutors also cited organized money laundering and issues involving cryptology services.
#1 Best Overall
- GSM Unlocked: Enjoy seamless connectivity with your preferred GSM carrier. Compatible with T-Mobile, Metro PCS, AT&T, Cricket, Mint Mobile and other GSM networks. SIM card not included. For network compatibility, please check with your carrier. Note: Not compatible with CDMA networks like Verizon (Visible, Spectrum Mobile, US Mobile, Total Wireless, Straight Talk Wireless)
- Boundless Views: Enjoy immersive viewing on the spacious 6.5” HD+ display. Whether you're watching videos, browsing, or gaming, every detail comes through with stunning clarity.
- Smooth Performance, All Day: Powered by an efficient octa-core processor, the G35 ensures smooth performance for your everyday tasks. Enjoy faster app launches, seamless multitasking, and reliable speed.
- Snap, Share, Repeat: The G35 features a dual rear camera setup for sharp, detailed shots, and a front-facing camera that’s perfect for selfies and video calls. Capture every moment with ease and clarity.
- Effortless Access: Keep your phone secure with A.I. Face ID technology. Instantly unlock your G35 with just a glance. It's fast, easy, and secure.
Those are allegations in a judicial investigation, not findings of guilt. The prosecutor’s August 28 release sets out the formal-investigation decision and the conditions of Durov’s release. The earlier August 26 release describes the investigation background and detention framework.
Detention, formal investigation, and release were separate steps
French authorities detained Durov on August 24, 2024. His police custody was extended the following day. On August 28, prosecutors placed him under formal investigation and released him under judicial supervision. The conditions included a €5 million bond, reporting to a police station twice a week, and a ban on leaving France.
Rank #2
- Unmatched Security: The MC02 isn't just a smartphone; it's your digital guardian. Unlike other smartphones that sell your data, ours protects your privacy. Enjoy an intentional mobile experience where your personal information stays yours—never tracked, sold, or compromised
- Your Digital Sanctuary: An ecosystem of secure communications, access essentials such as Email, Calendar, Contacts, Notes and Storage without advertising-based data infiltration. The built-in VPN allows you to protect your connectivity and privacy, even on public networks
- Intuitive Design: Experience the MC02's seamless blend of sleek design and user-friendly interface, complemented by an IPS display. Capture stunning moments with 64MP/24MP cameras, shoot in 4K video, all while enjoying ample storage with 128GB memory and a long-lasting battery
- Privacy at Your Fingertips: Regain control and true consent of your digital and mobile use, with real-time insights from the groundbreaking Data & Carbon Ledger. Empower yourself with real-time data to view the safety risk and environmental imprint of individual apps
- Apostrophy OS: The MC02 includes a 12-month Apostrophy Services subscription, designed to protect your digital sovereignty beyond a standard OS. Threema comes pre-installed—a Swiss messenger known for rigorous data protection—so you can communicate with added peace of mind from a smartphone that values your privacy as much as you do.
Being placed under formal investigation is not a conviction. Nor did release under supervision mean the case had been dismissed. The available information here does not establish the investigation’s later outcome, so Durov’s September 2024 statement should not be mistaken for a current legal-status update.
Did Durov admit Telegram had failed?
No. He challenged the legal approach and did not concede the French allegations or accept personal criminal responsibility. But he did acknowledge moderation challenges and promised significant improvements to prevent abuse. That distinction matters: recognizing that a service has moderation problems is not the same as admitting that its operator committed the crimes under investigation.
Rank #3
- Carrier: This phone is locked to Tracfone, which means this device can only be used on the Tracfone wireless network. Tracfone plan required, activating is easy, just 3 steps.
- DISPLAY: Immersive viewing on a 6.7-inch super-bright 120Hz display with powerful stereo speakers and Bass Boost for cinematic entertainment.
- CAMERA SYSTEM: Advanced 50MP Quad Pixel camera captures sharp, detailed photos and videos in any lighting condition
- PERFORMANCE: Lightning-fast 5G connectivity paired with a powerful processor and RAM Boost for smooth multitasking.
- BATTERY LIFE: Long-lasting 5000mAh battery with TurboPower charging technology delivers hours of power in minutes.
What could change at Telegram?
Durov’s statement promised improvement but did not lay out a detailed implementation plan. It should not be read as an announcement that Telegram would begin blanket monitoring of private conversations. Telegram’s FAQ describes reporting tools for illegal content, including in-app reporting and [email protected]. The company’s EU Digital Services Act guidance explains its reporting and regulatory-contact arrangements.
Moderation and privacy are not simple opposites: public channels, groups, bots, and other public-facing material raise different issues from conversations between participants. Telegram says Secret Chats use end-to-end encryption, while ordinary cloud chats are not the same thing. Calling Telegram simply an “encrypted messaging app” can therefore obscure important differences between its features. Its FAQ also distinguishes public content, which users can report, from private chats and groups. Durov’s September statement did not specify a new policy for reviewing private conversations.
Rank #4
- Dual-SIM (Nano-SIM), Network Standard-SIM CARD 1 [ 2G GSM 850 , 900 , 1800 , 1900 and,or 3G 850(B5) , 900(B8) , 1700|2100(B4) , 1900(B2) , 2100(B1) and,or 4G LTE 700(B12) , 700c(B13) , 700(B14) , 700(B28) , 700(B29) , 800(B20) , 800(B27) , 850(B5) , 850(B26) , 900(B8) , 1800(B3) , 1900(B2) , 1900(B25) , 1700|2100(B4) , 1700|2100(B66) , 2100(B1) , 2300(B30) , 2600(B7) | TD-LTE-1900(B39) , 2300(B40) , 2500(B41) , 2600(B38) ] and SIM CARD 2 [ 2G GSM 850 , 900 , 1800 , 1900 ]
- This Smartphone is compatible/will work with any GSM Networks such as AT&T, T-Mobile. For exact 2G GSM, 3G, 4G/LTE compatibility, please check with your network provider in advance prior to your purchase.
- 5.0Inches Gorilla Glass 3 Screen, FHD 1080 x 1920, 16.7M Colors
- 64GB ROM, 4GB RAM, Up to 128GB MicroSD Slot, 12MP PDAF Rear Camera with Flash 8MP FF Front Camera without Flash
What the statement did—and did not—settle
The dispute exposed two competing claims. Durov argued that a platform executive should not be held personally responsible for every act of users and emphasized Telegram’s privacy commitments. French prosecutors alleged that the company’s infrastructure was implicated in serious crimes and that it failed to meet legal obligations to provide information. Whether prosecutors could establish individual criminal responsibility, and what operational changes Telegram might make while maintaining its privacy model, remained unresolved by Durov’s post.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesTelegram identifies Durov as its founder, owner, and CEO and says the company is based in Dubai on its press information page. The approximately 950 million users cited in the 2024 statement was a figure for that news moment, not a current count; Telegram’s press page later said it passed one billion monthly active users in 2025.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
