France's arrest of Telegram boss Pavel Durov "not a political decision at all," President Emmanuel Macron says
CBSSEP 2024
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov was arrested as part of an independent judicial investigation and is based on alleged criminal violations. It would be silly to see political motives in what is a purely legal process. The case against the messaging app only brings to relief the complex legal landscape of digital platforms and their responsibilities in preventing illegal activities.
Pavel Durov's arrest is shocking, for starters. It is a dangerous escalation in France's attempts to regulate online content, all the more so since the Telegram CEO is an ardent proponent of user privacy and free speech. Alarmingly, the development could set a chilling precedent, potentially deterring innovation and free expression in the digital world.
There is an 80% chance Freedom House will report that internet freedom has declined every year until 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.