French law enforcement has charged Pavel Durov after he refused to hire content moderators to monitor Telegram for criminal activity, including child sexual-abuse material and money laundering. This arrest has ignited a global debate over free speech and the responsibilities of social media platforms.
A Telegram spokesman stated, 'It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner is responsible for abuse of that platform,' asserting that Durov's arrest could lead to countries exploiting surveillance powers under the guise of regulation.
French President Emmanuel Macron distanced the government from Durov's arrest, stating it was made independently by prosecutors, emphasizing that 'this is in no way a political decision. It is up to the judges to decide.'
Pavel Durov, often compared to Mark Zuckerberg, has established himself as a significant figure in tech, starting from creating VKontakte at 21, supporting the notion of individualism in his work ethos.
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