Telegram Founder Pavel Durov Arrested in Paris

Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, was arrested in France for allegedly facilitating illegal activities through the messaging app, which boasts nearly a billion users. French prosecutors accuse him of failing to respond adequately to requests for cooperation regarding criminal cases on the platform. Durov, a known libertarian and privacy advocate, asserts that the app is designed for secure communication and cannot be held responsible for how users employ it. The arrest has ignited a debate over the balance between free speech and the regulation of social media, with varying opinions emerging from both Russian officials and the Kremlin-aligned media. While some view the incident as a legitimate call for stronger content moderation, others perceive it as Western political maneuvering against freedom of expression. The complexities of Durov's situation reflect broader tensions between state control and digital privacy rights in an increasingly regulated online landscape.