Iranian prosecutors have filed criminal charges against the CEO of the popular encrypted messaging app Telegram, Pavel Durov, Fox News reported citing ISNA news agency.
They allege that the service, which is used to spread uncensored news and political opinions, is rife with extremist propaganda and child pornography.
A report Tuesday by the ISNA news agency quoted Tehran prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi as saying the charges against Durov stem from Telegram's popularity with the Islamic State group, as well as the ease by which child pornographers, human traffickers and drug smugglers could use the app.
Dolatabadi also reportedly said that "Western law" didn't apply to this case. He said the unspecified charges now were in the hands of the international affairs division of Tehran's prosecutor.
