TLDR:
- Telegram CEO Pavel Durov arrested in France
- Rumble CEO Chris Pavlovski leaves Europe citing threats from France
- Durov accused of failing to cooperate with law enforcement and moderate illegal content
- Telegram denies wrongdoing, says it complies with EU laws
- Rumble vows to fight for free speech using legal means
The tech world was shaken this weekend as Pavel Durov, CEO of the popular messaging app Telegram, was arrested by French authorities.
The arrest, which took place at Paris-Le Bourget Airport on Saturday evening, was based on a warrant issued by the country’s judicial police.
According to reports, French investigators are focusing on Telegram’s alleged failure to cooperate with law enforcement and lack of moderation for illegal content on its platform.
The accusations against Durov include facilitating crimes such as child sexual abuse, drug trafficking, fraud, and terrorism.
In response to the arrest, Chris Pavlovski, founder and CEO of video-sharing platform Rumble, announced his departure from Europe. Pavlovski stated on social media, “I’ve just safely departed from Europe.” He claimed that France had “threatened Rumble” and had “crossed a red line” by arresting Durov.
I’m a little late to this, but for good reason — I’ve just safely departed from Europe.
France has threatened Rumble, and now they have crossed a red line by arresting Telegram’s CEO, Pavel Durov, reportedly for not censoring speech.
Rumble will not stand for this behavior and…
— Chris Pavlovski (@chrispavlovski) August 25, 2024
Pavlovski expressed his company’s commitment to fighting for freedom of expression, stating, “Rumble will not stand for this behavior and will use every legal means available to fight for freedom of expression, a universal human right.”
He added that Rumble is currently engaged in legal battles in French courts and hopes for Durov’s immediate release.
Telegram, in a statement following Durov’s arrest, denied any wrongdoing. The company asserted that its content moderation policies align with European Union laws and industry standards.
Telegram emphasized that its platform serves as a vital source of information for nearly a billion users and dismissed claims that a platform or its owner could be held responsible for its misuse as “absurd.”
The arrest has sparked concerns about free speech in Europe. Elon Musk, owner of X (formerly Twitter), criticized the arrest, stating that free speech in Europe is under attack. Russian authorities have also requested an explanation from French officials regarding Durov’s detention.
The incident has had repercussions in the cryptocurrency world as well. Toncoin, a cryptocurrency associated with Telegram, experienced a sharp price drop following Durov’s arrest.
However, it has shown signs of recovery in the past 24 hours.
Rumble, known for its more lenient content moderation policies compared to larger social media companies, has faced its own challenges in Europe.
In November 2022, the platform blocked access to French users after claiming the country’s government had asked it to remove certain Russian news sources.
As of now, French authorities have not publicly released a statement on Durov’s arrest. The tech community and free speech advocates are closely watching the situation, waiting to see how it unfolds and what implications it may have for online platforms and content moderation policies in Europe.
Durov, who is a Russian-born French citizen, could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted of the charges.
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