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Telegram CEO Arrested: Elon Musk, Edward Snowden and Other Tech Giants Raise Alarm Over Freedom of Speech in France and Europe

Posted on by darion

Pavel Durov, the 39-year-old founder of the popular messaging app Telegram, was arrested at Le Bourget Airport in France on Sunday, August 25. The arrest, based on a warrant related to alleged Telegram-related crimes, sparked international controversy and criticism.

Why was Pavel Durov arrested?

Durov was detained for alleged crimes related to the messaging app, AFP reported earlier, citing officials who were not identified. The 39-year-old billionaire is suspected of failing to take steps to prevent criminal use of Telegram, AFP reported, adding that he is due to appear in court on Sunday.

Durov faces potential charges that could result in a serious prison sentence. The arrest has raised concerns about the future of freedom of communication in Europe and could affect France’s reputation as a startup-friendly country.

Durov, who was the 120th richest person in the world on Aug. 25, founded Telegram in 2013 after leaving Russia due to government pressure. The messaging app is known for its strong end-to-end encryption and has become a popular platform for secure messaging around the world.

Top leaders criticize Durov’s arrest

Edward Snowden, a former NSA whistleblower now living in Russia, strongly condemned the arrest on social media platform X. He said: “The arrest of @Durov is an attack on the fundamental human rights of freedom of speech and association. I am surprised and deeply saddened that (French President Emmanuel Macron) has stooped to the level of taking hostages as a means of gaining access to private communications. This is lowering not only France but the entire world.”

Tesla CEO Elon Musk also weighed in, writing on Twitter: “It’s 2030 in Europe and you’re being executed for liking a meme,” suggesting fears of tightening censorship in the region.

American entrepreneur Balaji Srinivasan criticized the arrest, saying the French government’s actions were motivated more by a desire for control than crime prevention. He pointed to the unreasonable expectations placed on Durov to police criminal activity among Telegram’s massive user base, especially when the French government itself is struggling to manage crime within its borders.

Telegram has not yet issued an official statement on the arrest. The Russian embassy in France is reportedly taking steps to resolve the situation, given Durov’s high profile and widespread use of the app.