France's Bold Cybercrime Law Targets Tech Titans

French prosecutors are leveraging a new law, LOPMI, to target tech leaders like Pavel Durov, CEO of Telegram, for allowing illegal activities on their platforms. Enacted in January 2023, the law faces untested challenges in courts. This pioneering approach could either lead to significant legal victories or backfire if judges are hesitant to convict.

French prosecutors have a potent new weapon in their arsenal: the LOPMI law, which targets tech moguls like Telegram's Pavel Durov for illegal activities occurring on their platforms. Enacted in January 2023, this groundbreaking law criminalises tech executives whose platforms facilitate criminal operations.

The law has catapulted France to the forefront of cybercrime deterrence, but its real-world application remains untested. Last month saw Durov placed under formal investigation, facing charges such as 'complicity in the administration of an online platform to allow an illicit transaction, in an organised gang,' a charge carrying up to a 10-year prison sentence and a €500,000 fine.

Durov, who denies any wrongdoing, is out on bail, and Telegram insists it complies with EU laws. Despite this, the law's unique stance has caught international attention, with experts noting its unprecedented scope. The outcomes of cases like Durov's will be pivotal in determining the effectiveness and future of such legislative measures.

(With inputs from agencies.)