By Julian Castillo
Aug 26, 2024, 6:30 PM EDT
Pavel Durov, founder and CEO of Telegram, was arrested in France last Saturday, August 24, 2024, at Le Bourget airport, north of Paris, after landing on his private jet from Azerbaijan.
His arrest has sparked a wave of speculation and has brought to the fore the debate on the responsibility of digital platforms in relation to the content shared by their users.
Reasons behind the arrest
Durov was arrested in the framework of a Ongoing judicial investigation involving lack of content moderation on Telegram. The French authorities have linked this action to the Telegram’s alleged refusal to cooperate in investigations into cyber and financial crimesincluding cyberbullying, promotion of extremism and drug trafficking conspiracies, all facilitated through the platform.
Durov’s arrest follows an order issued by the French office tasked with combating violence against minors and other serious crimes. The move is based on the perception that Telegram has not adequately complied with content moderation regulations, allowing illegal activities to be shared and spread on the platform.
Telegram’s response: Defending platform neutrality
Following the arrest of its founder, Telegram issued a statement defending its position, stating that Durov is not responsible for any abuses committed by users within the platform.The company assured that it complies with European laws, including the Digital Services Act, and stressed that moderation in Telegram is within the industry standards, constantly improving.
Telegram also called it “absurd” to hold the platform or its owner responsible for abuses by its users, highlighting the Importance of privacy and freedom of expressionHowever, this approach has been criticised by French and EU authorities, who argue that given Telegram’s size and reach, the platform has an obligation to ensure it is not used for illegal activities.
Durov’s arrest highlights growing tensions between governments and big tech platformsespecially when it comes to content moderation and cooperation in criminal investigations. As regulators around the world toughen their stance against tech companies, cases like Durov’s could become more common, fueling a debate about the balance between digital privacy and public safety.
Continue reading:
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– Authorities in France arrest Telegram founder Pavel Durov