Following the recent arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov in France, the messaging platform is now grappling with escalating legal challenges in multiple countries. Reports indicate that Indonesia is considering a ban on Telegram due to allegations that it facilitates pornography and online gambling activities.
Indonesian Communication and Informatics Minister Budi Arie Setiadi has voiced strong concerns, stating that the Ministry has already warned Telegram about its content moderation practices. Minister Setiadi stressed that if evidence of illegal content is confirmed, the government would take decisive action to block the platform.
This intensifying legal scrutiny follows a troubling incident in Central Java, where a 20-year-old resident, identified as “MAFA,” was arrested for allegedly managing a child pornography group on Telegram. Indonesian authorities are reportedly monitoring the platform for further violations.
In France, Durov’s legal troubles have deepened since his arrest at Le Bourget Airport. The Paris prosecutor’s office has reported that he faces 12 serious charges, including complicity in child pornography sales, drug trafficking, fraud, and failure to cooperate with investigations. Durov has since been granted bail under strict conditions: he must pay €5 million, report to police twice a week, and remain within French territory. Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau confirmed that there are sufficient grounds to investigate Durov on all charges related to his initial arrest.
However, the legal challenges for Telegram extend beyond France and Indonesia, as the Indian government has also launched an investigation into the platform. Authorities in India are examining claims that Telegram is being used for criminal activities, including extortion and gambling. Similar to investigations underway in France and Indonesia, the messaging platform could face potential bans in these countries.
Toncoin (TON) plunged about 20% after Durov was arrested outside Paris on August 24, before paring some of those losses. TON’s total value locked (TVL) has fallen to $357 million from a high of $769 million reached in July, according to data provider DefiLlama.
In the wake of this price crash, certain Toncoin supporters perceived an opportunity amidst the chaos. DWF Labs, a crypto market maker with a stake in the token, seized the moment to invest “millions” of dollars in Toncoin following the decline, as confirmed by co-founder Eugene Ng to Bloomberg.
Despite efforts to stabilize Toncoin’s value, the cryptocurrency has struggled to regain its footing. The TON price has continued its downward trajectory, showing no signs of recovery with a further 1% drop in the 24-hour timeframe. The token has sustained substantial losses over the past month, amounting to nearly 17%, currently trading at $5.54.
In case of further price retracements, bullish investors will need to keep a close eye on the $5.15 and $4.87 marks, the largest support levels for the token on its daily TON/USDT chart.
