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Russian Lawmakers Defend Telegram CEO Against French Arrest
Russian lawmakers have responded to reports of the arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov in France, denying any political motives behind the arrest. Durov was arrested at Paris-Le Bourget airport on Saturday evening, according to French broadcaster TF1 and news agency AFP, for allegedly failing to adequately moderate criminal activity on his messaging platform.
Background
Pavel Durov, a Russia-born billionaire, was arrested after arriving in France on his private jet from Azerbaijan. The Russian embassy in France has requested consular access to Durov, but there has been no request from his representatives. Durov is expected to appear in court on Sunday.
Reactions from Russian Lawmakers
Deputy Speaker of the State Duma, Vladislav Davankov, called on Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to secure Durov’s release, stating that the arrest could have political motives and be a means of obtaining the personal data of Telegram users. Andrey Klishas, head of Russia’s Federation Council Committee on Constitutional Law, described France’s actions as a "fight for freedom of speech and European values" in a sarcastic post on his Telegram channel.
Context
Durov’s arrest is the result of a preliminary investigation into whether a lack of moderation on Telegram has facilitated illegal activity, including terrorism, drug peddling, money laundering, fraud, and child exploitation. The platform has gained prominence in recent years, becoming an important communication tool for global leaders and a resource for sharing news and organizing in geopolitical crises.
Impact on Free Speech
The news has sparked a global debate over the extent to which social media platforms and messaging apps should prioritize free speech or more tightly police the content they host. The arrest of Durov is likely to further increase scrutiny on the extent to which executives should be held personally liable for lapses in moderation.
International Reactions
Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of X, tweeted that "it’s 2030 in Europe and you’re being executed for liking a meme." This reaction has been met with backlash from free-speech proponents.
Pavel Durov’s Background
Durov was previously hailed as the "Mark Zuckerberg of Russia" after co-founding VKontakte, Russia’s most popular social media network, in 2007. However, he fled Russia in 2014 after refusing to comply with demands from the country’s security agency to share the data of certain Ukrainian users of VK. Durov now has dual French-Emirati citizenship and an estimated net worth of $15.5 billion.
Conclusion
The arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has sparked a global debate over the balance between free speech and content moderation. While Russian lawmakers have defended Durov, the incident has highlighted the importance of transparency and accountability in the online world.
FAQs
Q: Why was Pavel Durov arrested?
A: Durov was arrested in France for allegedly failing to adequately moderate criminal activity on Telegram.
Q: What is the investigation about?
A: The investigation is into whether a lack of moderation on Telegram has facilitated illegal activity, including terrorism, drug peddling, money laundering, fraud, and child exploitation.
Q: What is Telegram’s stance on content moderation?
A: Telegram’s guidelines ban terrorist channels and state that it does not allow spam and scams, illegal pornography, or the promotion of violence on publicly viewable Telegram channels.
Q: How many users does Telegram have?
A: Telegram has almost 1 billion users, making it one of the most popular messaging apps in the world.
Q: What is the reaction from international leaders?
A: Elon Musk has tweeted that "it’s 2030 in Europe and you’re being executed for liking a meme." This reaction has been met with backlash from free-speech proponents.
Author: www.ft.com
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