Telegram CEO Pavel Durov arrest: Elon Musk, Edward Snowden, Lex Fridman criticise France’s treatment of tech billionaire

X owner Elon Musk (pictured above) called for the release of Pavel Durov [File]
| Photo Credit: Reuters

After Telegram CEO and Billionaire Pavel Durov was arrested at a French airport on Saturday (August 24, 2024).Tech leaders and influencers across the political spectrum reacted angrily, accusing the French government of censorship and threatening free speech rights.

Telegram messenger posted a statement on x in response to Durov’s arrest. The company said it was complying with Europe’s Digital Services Act and that CEO Durov had nothing to hide.

“It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner is responsible for the misuse of that platform,” Telegram posted on X on Aug. 26, adding, “Nearly a billion users around the world use Telegram as a means of communication and a source of important information.”

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The company said it is looking forward to a quick solution and assured users that it is on their side.

Although Tesla CEO and billionaire Elon Musk has not issued any formal statement against Durov’s arrest, he has written several posts on X criticizing France and its regime.

He also posted the hashtag “Free Pavel” on X, along with a video excerpt of Durov’s 2024 interview. In response to another user who posted “France is for crime, against freedom,” Musk wrote “Well said.”

Meanwhile, privacy advocate and whistleblower Edward Snowden condemned the arrest and called out French President Emmanuel Macron by name.

“The arrest of @Durov is an assault on the basic human rights of speech and association. I am shocked and deeply saddened that Macron has stooped to the level of taking hostages to gain access to private communications. This disgraces not just France, but the world,” Snowden posted on X on August 25.

He also shared x messages from other people condemning France’s treatment of Durov, and criticizing those who did not speak out against censorship of both TikTok and Telegram.

Podcast host Lex Fridman also criticised the French government’s move.

“The arrest of Pavel Durov is a disturbing attack on free expression and poses a threat not just to Telegram but to any online platform. Governments should not engage in censorship. This is a clear and extremely troubling overreach of power,” he posted on X on August 26.

Rumble Video CEO Chris Pawlowski claimed that his video platform had also received similar threats from France and that he had left Europe. He claimed that Durov was arrested “allegedly for not censoring speech”.

“Rumble will not tolerate this behavior and will use every legal means to fight for freedom of expression, a universal human right. We are currently fighting in the courts of France, and we expect the immediate release of Pavel Durov,” Pawlowski posted on X.

The Russian embassy in France has taken note of the arrest and posted on Facebook that it is working to protect Durov’s rights and understand what happened, the BBC reports.

There are persistent concerns that Telegram is being used as a communications hub by white supremacists, illegal media propagators, and other criminals, and that this is not being adequately regulated or reported.

However, Telegram Messenger stressed that its moderation is in line with industry standards and is constantly improving.