France's arrest of Telegram boss Pavel Durov "not a political decision at all," President Emmanuel Macron says
CBSAug 17
France Formally Charges Telegram CEO
Above: Pavel Durov, CEO and co-founder of Telegram speaks onstage during day one of TechCrunch Disrupt SF 2015 at Pier 70 on September 21, 2015 in San Francisco, California. Image copyright: Steve Jennings/Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
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.
The Spin
Narrative A
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.
Narrative B
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.