Gairika Mitra
Just a few days after the dramatic arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov, French President Emmanuel Macron chipped in to clarify the situation. In a direct and pointy post on X, he emphasized that the arrest of Durov was not a political decision, but a judicial one.
He affirmed the fact that France has always been deeply committed to the freedom of expression, communication, innovation, and entrepreneurship, and it will continue to champion these values.
“I have seen false information regarding France following the arrest of Pavel Durov. France is deeply committed to freedom of expression and communication, to innovation, and to the spirit of entrepreneurship. It will remain so. In a state governed by the rule of law, freedoms are upheld within a legal framework, both on social media and in real life, to protect citizens and respect their fundamental rights. It is up to the judiciary, in full independence, to enforce the law,” he said in his post.
Durov was arrested at the Le Bourget Airport in Paris last weekend. He had earned repute for standing up to authoritarian regimes, with his rejection of the Russian government’s requests to censor anti-government figures being a particuarly famous one.
He made his stance clear in an earlier interview with journalist Tucker Carlson where he detailed his resistance to authoritarian pressures. Soon after Durov’s arrest, Telegram issued a statement, noting that its operations are in alignment with the Digital Services Act and that it maintains the highest standards when it comes to content moderation practices.
According to the French authorities, Telegram was used for illicit activities like drug trafficking and distributing child sexual abuse images. As of Tuesday, Durov had not been charged. He is being held for questioning until Wednesday evening.
The arrest of Durov put the tech world on edge. Recently, Rumble CEO Chris Pavlovski departed from Europe and posted about it on X. He said that France had threatened Rumble earlier and referred to Durov’s arrest by the French authorities as “crossing a red line” because Telegram had not complied with demands to censor speech.
Pavlovski addressed the French president’s post on X, saying, “When you say you are committed to freedom of expression, you are lying. We have a letter from France that proves this, without a doubt. We had to shut down Rumble in France because you have NO commitment to freedom of expression.”
Read More
- Rumble CEO Flees Europe After Durov Arrest Sparks Concerns Over Free Speech and Tech Regulation
- The Durov Arrest: A Clash of Freedom, Security, and the Alleged Shadow of Israel
- Telegram Responds After CEO Pavel Durov Detained in France
Gairika holds positions in BTC. This article is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The Shib Magazine and The Shib Daily are the official media and publications of the Shiba Inu cryptocurrency project. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial adviser before making any investment decisions.
