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Arrest of Telegram founder sparks discussion about freedom of expression
The arrest of Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, sparks a debate about freedom of expression and illegal activities on the Internet. A must-have for everyone who wants to pursue the current discussion.
Arrest of Telegram founder sparks discussion about freedom of expression
The arrest of the Russian-born billionaire and founder of Telegram, a messaging app known for its uncensored content, has sparked a debate about freedom of expression and illegal content online.
Arrest and ongoing investigation
Pavel Durov, 39 years old, was arrested on Saturday at Bourget airport in Paris on an arrest warrant linked to Telegram's lack of moderation. He reportedly traveled from Azerbaijan to Paris on his private jet before being arrested.
The Parisian public prosecutor announced on Monday that Durov will be recorded as part of an investigation that began on July 8th. He is investigated by a number of offenses, including the allegation that his platform offers money washers, drug dealers and people who spread child pornography. The public prosecutor also accused Durov of having refused to help the French authorities to potentially illegally help people and extend his detention, which can now continue until Wednesday.
Political reactions and the opinion of Macron
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed on x that Durov's arrest is related to an "ongoing judicial investigation" and is "not a political decision". "In a constitutional state, freedoms are exercised within a framework that is determined by the law to protect the citizens and respect their fundamental rights," Macron continued. "France is committed to freedom of expression and communication, innovation and entrepreneurship and will continue to do so in the future."
The role of Telegram
Telegram with around 900 million users is an important means of communication in many countries and is used for everything, from everyday conversations to the spread of government messages. The Russian embassy in Paris Durov's arrest confirmed on Sunday and stated that one was in contact with the entrepreneur's lawyer.
Durov's arrest raises questions about the extent to which tech leaders should be held responsible for the content on their platforms. Telegram referred to this perspective in a statement On Sunday as "absurd". "Encrypted communication apps such as Telegram are an expression of freedom of expression for some and access to the Dark Web for others," said Duncan Clark, chairman of BDA and technology expert.
Challenges due to lack of moderation
The app is known for its high levels of encryption and limited oversight of the content users post, making it particularly vulnerable to disinformation, conspiracy theories, hate and other harmful content.
Telegram's strong stance against censorship has made the platform particularly prominent in countries where freedom of expression is restricted, such as Russia, Iran and India. Telegram has also become very popular in Ukraine, where it is an important tool for spreading news about the war and warnings about airstrikes.
Growing supervision of tech giants
In the statement on Sunday, Telegram stated that Durov had "nothing to hide" and it was "absurd to say that a platform or its owner are responsible for the abuse of this platform". "Telegram adheres to the EU laws, including the digital service Act-the moderation corresponds to the industry standards and is constantly improved," added the company to X in the explanation.
The arrest is a sign that France acts against inadequate moderation on platforms such as Telegram, said Clark. The supervisory authorities of the European Union have reinforced the controls against technology giants and introduced a number of new laws to put them in the barriers.
Reactions from the Tech World
Durov's arrest quickly triggered criticism from prominent anti-scensur figures, including Elon Musk and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Musk posted " #FreePavel " on his social media platform X and shared a video of Durov on Tucker Carlson's show praising on X.
At the end of October 2023, Telegram restricted access to several channels that are operated with or by Hamas, after weeks of control after the attacks on October 7 on Israel.
Durov, often referred to as the “ Mark Zuckerberg of Russia ", founded Telegram with his brother Nikolai in 2013 and is worth $9.15 billion, according to Bloomberg's Billionaires Index. He was born in Russia but left the country in 2014 after refusing to provide data on Ukrainian Vkontakte users to the Russian government and currently lives in Dubai.
"I would rather be free than to give orders," Durov told Reuters about his departure from Russia in April and the search for a new location for his company, which included stations in Berlin, London, Singapore and San Francisco.
— This report has been updated with additional information.