France's arrest of Telegram boss Pavel Durov "not a political decision at all," President Emmanuel Macron says
CBSAUG 13 2024
French authorities on Wednesday framed six charges against arrested Telegram CEO Pavel Durov. He was released on €5M ($5.6M) bail and barred from leaving France.French authorities on Wednesday indicted six charges against arrested Telegram CEO Pavel Durov. He was released on a €5M ($5.6M) bail and barred from leaving France.
The preliminary charges include his Dubai-based messaging app enabling money laundering and drug trafficking and carrying child sex abuse-related content.The preliminary charges include his Dubai-based messaging app enabling money laundering and drug trafficking, as well as carrying child sex abuse-related content.
The 39-year-old French citizen, who reportedly supports free speech, is now expected to check in at a police station twice a week.The 39-year-old French citizen, who has engaged in controversial debate about free speech online, is now expected to check in at a police station twice a week.
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov's arrest was arrested as part of an independent judicial investigation and is based on alleged criminal violations. It would be silly to seeargue that political motives inare whatat iswork ain this 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, forand startersa potential affront to justice. ItThis is a dangerous escalation in France's attempts to regulate online content, all the more sosignificant since the Telegram CEO is an ardent proponent of user privacy and free speech. Alarmingly,The the development could set a chilling precedent, potentially deterring innovation and free expression in the digital world.