Telegram CEO Durov's Arrest Sparks Global Controversy

The arrest of Pavel Durov, CEO and founder of Telegram, by French authorities at Le Bourget Airport has sparked international controversy and calls for his release from various entities, including the TON Society and the UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Durov faces serious charges, including conspiracy in illegal transactions, child pornography, and cybercrimes, which many critics view as a pretext to undermine encrypted communication and user privacy. French prosecutors have until August 28th to decide on charges. The arrest has raised concerns about the motives behind it, with some seeing it as an attack on online privacy and free speech. Elon Musk has also recently commented on the importance of free speech in the wake of Mark Zuckerberg’s admission of government pressure to censor COVID-19 content on Meta's platforms. This arrest and its implications are seen as part of a broader geopolitical tension involving tech giants and state control over digital communication.