Is Pavel Durov a brave crusader for liberty and free-speech, or a compromised individual whose social media platform empowers criminals, paedophiles and even Vladmir Putin? The French authorities certainly think he has questions to answer. Social media bosses are regularly questioned by governments - like the recent grilling of the heads of TikTok , Meta , and X before US Congress. But French prosecutors have taken the virtually unprecedented step of arresting a tech boss over what they say is criminal activity on Durov's platform Telegram and his refusal to cooperate in their investigations.
Telegram has rejected any such accusation saying it abides with all EU laws and that Durov has "nothing to hide" . But Durov's arrest is a consequential one. It fits the narrative being pushed hard by libertarian loud-mouths with massive social media followings like Elon Musk and Tucker Carlson that efforts by western governments to regulate online platforms are political overreach and a direct attack on free speech.
More from Science & Tech Arrest of billionaire Telegram founder not a political decision, says French president Pavel Durov: Russia calls Telegram founder a 'political prisoner' after arrest in France Who is Russian billionaire Pavel Durov, the Telegram messaging app founder detained in France? Efforts to regulate encrypted platforms like Telegram, widely known to be used by organised gangs, paedophiles, money launderers and cybercriminals are, they argue, an effort to censo.