French authorities have stepped up their investigation into Pavel Durov, the billionaire founder of Telegram – the encrypted messaging app that keeps conversations private for its almost 1 billion users. After being arrested near Paris on Sunday, Durov – a 39yo Russian-French national – is facing charges over Telegram’s alleged lack of moderation and allowing criminal activity to thrive. Reports say the prosecution is notable because it’s a rare legal move to hold a tech boss liable for a platform’s users… There are also questions about what his arrest means for Russia, where Telegram is the dominant messaging platform. In a statement, Telegram said it “abides by EU laws” and is “awaiting a prompt resolution of this situation”. Durov has to stay in France while investigations continue, and his bail’s been set at more than $8.18 million. No chump change…