Pavel Durov, founding father of the messaging utility Telegram, supplied an replace concerning his ongoing case in France, and mentioned the prison investigation in opposition to him is “struggling” to search out any proof of wrongdoing.
Durov mentioned his arrest by French authorities in August 2024 was “unprecedented” and added that holding a tech government accountable for the actions of impartial customers was “legally and logically absurd,” in a Telegram post on Sunday. Durov added:
“A yr later, the ‘prison investigation’ in opposition to me remains to be struggling to search out something that I or Telegram did mistaken. Our moderation practices align with business requirements, and Telegram has all the time responded to each legally binding request from France.”
“One yr after this unusual arrest, I nonetheless should return to France each 14 days, with no attraction date in sight,” he continued, whereas additionally warning that the French authorities has carried out irreparable damage to France’s image as a free nation.
The arrest of Durov sparked widespread condemnation from the crypto neighborhood, human rights teams, and free speech activists, who accused the French authorities of arresting the Telegram founder to stress him into censoring the platform.
Associated: One year since Durov’s arrest: What’s happened and what’s ahead?
Pavel Durov’s arrest creates huge backlash in opposition to the French authorities
Durov was charged and initially barred from leaving France in reference to a probe into the Telegram platform’s content material moderation insurance policies, with French regulation enforcement officers accusing the platform of internet hosting dangerous content material.
French President Emmanuel Macron denied the arrest was politically motivated, triggering a torrent of censorship accusations and criticism from the crypto neighborhood.
“In a state ruled by the rule of regulation, freedoms are upheld inside a authorized framework, each on social media and in actual life, to guard residents and respect their elementary rights,” Macron wrote in a translated August 26 X post.
Mert Mumtaz, CEO of node supplier Helius, responded to Macron by asking: “Why aren’t you personally in jail for not controlling 100% of all crime in France?”
Durov has repeatedly mentioned that Telegram complies with all authorized regulation enforcement requests and maintains that the company will exit a jurisdiction earlier than succumbing to censorship pressures.
The Telegram platform is not going to compromise consumer privateness by handing over encryption keys or constructing backdoors into the messaging utility, Durov mentioned.
Journal: Did Telegram’s Pavel Durov commit a crime? Crypto lawyers weigh in
