POLITICO

French authorities on Wednesday indicted arrested Telegram CEO Pavel Durov on six charges. He was released on a €5M ($5.6M) bail and barred from leaving France.

The preliminary charges related to his Dubai-based messaging app and included enabling money laundering and drug trafficking, as well as carrying child sex abuse-related content.

New York Times

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.

Al Jazeera

Officials stated that the initiation of an investigation against Telegram, and Durov's arrest on Saturday, resulted from the platform's "near total absence of a response" to missives.

Washington Post

French President Emmanuel Macron has said the billionaire's arrest did not involve any politics, adding that “France is deeply committed to freedom of expression.”

Guardian

Telegram on Sunday said that Durov, who is also a UAE citizen, had "nothing to hide" and that it was absurd to hold him responsible for the actions of those abusing the platform.

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.

The preliminary charges include his Dubai-based messaging app enabling money laundering and drug trafficking and carrying child sex abuse-related content.

New York Times #1074

The 39-year-old French citizen, who reportedly supports free speech, is now expected to check in at a police station twice a week.

Al Jazeera #3554

Officials stated that the initiation of an investigation against Telegram and Durov's arrest on Saturday resulted from the platform's "near total absence of a response" to missives.

Washington Post #1464

French President Emmanuel Macron has said the billionaire's arrest did not involve any politics and “France is deeply committed to freedom of expression.”

Guardian #4303

Telegram Sunday said Durov, also a UAE citizen, had "nothing to hide" and that it was absurd to hold him responsible for the actions of those abusing the platform.

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.

PBS NewsHour

PBS NewsHour #5066

Macron says arrest of Telegram CEO was not political

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.

Al Jazeera #613

A dangerous precedent? Telegram CEO Pavel Durov’s arrest stokes speech war

There is an 80% chance Freedom House will report that internet freedom has declined every year until 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Metaculus

Metaculus #

Internet Freedom to Decline until 2025

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France Formally Charges Arrested Telegram CEO

France

Freedom of speech & expression

Cybercrime

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov's arrest was part of an independent judicial investigation and is based on alleged criminal violations. It would be silly to argue that political motives are at work in 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 and a potential affront to justice. This is a dangerous escalation in France's attempts to regulate online content, all the more significant since the Telegram CEO is an ardent proponent of user privacy and free speech. The development could set a chilling precedent, potentially deterring innovation and free expression in the digital world.

There's an 80% chance that the Freedom House will report that internet freedom has declined every year until 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Steve Jennings/Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Images

France Formally Charges Telegram CEO

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France Formally Charges Telegram CEO

France Formally Charges Arrested Telegram CEO

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