Telegram founder Pavel Durov has broken his silence following his arrest in France on 24th August. Taking to Telegram, the Russian billionaire issued a 600-word statement blasting the French authorities’ decision – while acknowledging that growing concerns about user safety are not totally unfounded.
The entrepreneur stated: “Telegram’s abrupt increase in user count to 950m caused growing pains that made it easier for criminals to abuse our platform,” as reported by The Verve. The messaging platform has meanwhile moved to update its FAQs, prompting speculation that private chats – which were previously protected from external interference – will now be subject to moderation.
Debates around free speech and social media have characterized much of the last couple of years, with figures like the incendiary Elon Musk stoking the fire. In the run-up to the US Presidential election, these debates have only intensified and, it seems, reached a critical mass, with TikTok overhauling its US Election Center in recent days.
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Free Speech Under Threat, Warns CEO
In his first statement since his arrest last month, the Telegram founder took aim at the French authorities – and mounted a strident defence of his platform. Durov was particularly irked by the decision to detain him personally, as opposed to going after the company, which he dubbed “the established practice.”
Going to great lengths to absolve the platform of blame, he continued: “The claims in some media that Telegram is some sort of anarchic paradise are absolutely untrue.” He did, however, accept that criminals were abusing lax moderation measures – and opened the door to possible reform, with private chats slated to be placed under increased scrutiny.
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Amid an investigation into the production and dissemination of child sexual abuse images, drug trafficking, and fraudulent activity, Durov was charged by the French judiciary for alleged complicity in allowing criminal activity on the platform. Legal representatives have dismissed the allegations.
Scandals Piling Up for Free Speech App
In recent weeks, Telegram has been a lightning rod for controversy. Just three days ago, Tech.co reported that a crypto scam involving former US President Donald Trump was unfolding on the platform, with more than 70,000 estimated to have been exposed to it.
Earlier this year, Guardio labeled Telegram a “bustling hub” for “seasoned cybercriminals,” accusing the messaging platform of “democratizing” large-scale phishing operations by making phishing toolkits publicly available. Thanks to Telegram, the report states, aspiring criminals have ready access to “everything needed to construct a complete end-to-end malicious campaign.”
And two years ago, the supposedly watertight messaging app was reported to have exposed user data to German authorities. The platform continues to protest its innocence.
Free Speech On Trial?
With the US election looming, censorship continues to be one of the definitive issues of our time. Social media giant X is seemingly never far from the headlines, with free speech advocate/chief provocateur Elon Musk quick to attack individuals deemed to be “infringing” on his democratic rights. Having refused to apologize after recently sharing a Kamala Harris deepfake, it would appear that the irony is lost on him.
Elsewhere, TikTok has moved to stem the tide of misinformation on its platform by revamping its US Election Center – even as its imminent US ban draws nearer and nearer.
On both sides of the debate, prominent figures and organizations are closing ranks as concerns over misinformation spread. In this climate, Durov’s comments can be understood as an attempt to push back against perceived “unfairness,” rather than an admission of culpability. What happens next is anybody’s guess – but don’t expect the issue to go away anytime soon.
