In Disagreeing with Elon Musk's Stance.
Supporters of Telegram's founder Pavel Durov view his detention as an instance of government suppression. That view, however, is unfounded. Elon Musk, on the other hand, expresses "#FreePavel" sentiments.
Shortly after Durov's apprehension at Paris's Le Bourget airport, a group of advocates swiftly came to his aid. Musk shared a Tucker Carlson interview with Durov and wrote, "#FreePavel" above it. Carlson himself characterized Durov's arrest as "a warning to anyone operating a platform that thwarts censorship on behalf of governments and intelligence agencies." Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a former presidential nominee and conspiracy theorist, concluded: "It's never been more crucial to defend free speech." Italy's Vice Premier Matteo Salvini deemed Europe to be under censorship. Edward Snowden, a renowned whistleblower, referred to Durov's detention as "an attack on the fundamental human right of free speech."
The Saturday evening detention of a social network and messaging service head catering to over 900 million users conveyed a clear message to supporters and defendants: the preservation of free speech is under threat. One theory suggests that Durov may be coerced by French authorities to grant state access to encrypted content, which evades probing by investigators. Some view him as a protector of free expression and information exchange.
Telegram: A nest for criminal activities
However, this perspective is overly simplified. Yes, Telegram is a popular and powerful platform liberating dissidents in authoritarian regimes, such as Russia, to disseminate messages unfiltered by the state. This is only possible due to consistent encryption, free from eavesdropping by intelligence agencies.
But the service also broadcasts extreme political ideologies, hate, and even terrorist messages. Moreover, it provides a sanctuary for organized crime under the veil of anonymity and encryption, as pointed out by criminologist David Maimon of Georgia State University in a Financial Times interview. "Telegram supports and contributes to online and offline offenses worldwide," Maimon stated. Such criminal activities range from fraud to weapons, drugs, or even human trafficking.
The background of French investigations eventually leading to Durov's detention seems to stem from this: a lack of moderation and collaboration in combating child sexual abuse. Jean-Michel Bernigaud, head of the Ofmin investigation office, confirmed this. Germany has also faced similar struggles in enforcing existing Telegram-related regulations.
France is now taking a more decisive stance and may seek to enact laws that Telegram should have implemented based on existing legislation: supporting investigations and preventing severe crimes. No reasonable person has managed to satisfactorily connect these stringent measures against pedophilia with the restriction of freedom of expression. Except, of course, for those clinging to a simplistic worldview – like Elon Musk appears to. Musk also claimed on Sunday that moderation is simply "a euphemism for censorship." There can be no freedom of expression on platforms plagued by hate speech and terrorism calls – in these environments, the law of the jungle prevails. Laws exist to curb this, and numerous European countries, including France and Germany, have rules in place to do so. Now, enforcement is underway, leaving Durov to face a routine legal procedure.
By the way: Several Russian government officials denounced Durov's arrest as politically motivated, labeling him a "political prisoner." This statement is ironic considering Russia's history of exiling Durov due to political repression – and its subsequent suppression of human rights, including the freedom of speech. However, Durov's advocates remain uninterested in this underlying context.
Despite the controversial nature of Telegram, with its use in spreading extreme ideologies and facilitating criminal activities, Musk continues to advocate for Durov's release, tweeting "#FreePavel" following a Tucker Carlson interview with Durov. Durov's detention, as Musk sees it, is merely an instance of censorship.
Despite the perceived political motivations behind Durov's arrest by Russian authorities, who have historically suppressed free speech, Musk remains focused on the issue of censorship, arguing that moderation is a mere euphemism for it, and that without proper measures in place, platforms like Telegram can become breeding grounds for hate speech and terrorism.
