Telegram CEO Pavel Durov charged by French prosecutors
NBCAUG 31 2024
Report: Telegram Founder Pavel Durov Allowed to Temporarily Leave France
Above: Pavel Durov, CEO and founder of the Telegram messaging app, arrives at a court in Paris on Dec. 6, 2024. Image copyright: Thomas Samson/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Durov was rightfully detained after Telegram failed to comply with laws on content moderation, thus allowing the platform's users to engage in a range of criminal activity ranging from fraud and drug trafficking to terrorism and distribution of child sexual abuse material.
Establishment-critical narrative
Ironically, Durov faces charges not from Putin’s Russia for his advocacy of free speech, but from France, a Western country, for his platform's lack of moderation and the criminal actions of its users. This response is not only excessive but also deeply unjust. In today's world, standing up for free speech can result in arrest. What is the world coming to?