SOCIAL MEDIA was shocked by the case of the arrest of Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram who was detained by French authorities at Paris Airport last Sunday.
The arrest drew international attention, given that such a strong response to a social media platform executive is extremely rare.
Reporting from the Guardian, Pavel Durov, who also holds French, Emirati, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Russian citizenship, was arrested when he had just got off his private jet after returning from Baku, Azerbaijan.
The arrests are part of an investigation into alleged involvement in a range of crimes, including fraud, drug trafficking, organised crime, promotion of terrorism and cyberbullying.
Telegram Statement
In its official statement, Telegram emphasized that it will comply with applicable laws.
“Telegram complies with all EU laws, including the Digital Services Act. Our moderation is in line with industry standards and we are constantly improving it.”
Also read: Telegram Boss Arrested, Russia: For the West, There Are No Good Citizens
Telegram also stated that Pavel Durov has nothing to hide and travels frequently in Europe.
They slammed the suggestion that platforms or their owners were responsible for the misuse of their platforms as “absurd.”
Meanwhile, Paris Prosecutor Laure Beccuau stated that Durov’s detention was part of an investigation focused on cybercrime.
Read also: Telegram Founder Pavel Durov Detained at Paris Airport on App Moderation Charges
“This investigation relates to illegal transactions, child abuse, fraud and refusal to provide information to authorities,” Beccuau said at a press conference.
Differences Between Telegram and Other Social Media Platforms
Pavel Durov’s detention highlights the fundamental differences between Telegram and other social media platforms.
Telegram is known for its lax moderation policies and does not fully encrypt messages end-to-end like WhatsApp and Signal.
Also read: Government Takes Down Social Media Groups Spreading Terrorism
Although Telegram offers end-to-end encryption through rarely used “secret chats,” most messages outside of these “secret chats” are accessible to Telegram.
Matthew Green, a cryptography expert, commented that Telegram is a very vulnerable platform compared to others.
“Telegram’s decision not to implement end-to-end encryption by default puts it in a vulnerable position compared to its competitors that are more concerned about user privacy,” he said.
What Does This Mean For Social Media Regulation?
The detention of Pavel Durov marks a significant shift in the government’s approach to regulating social media platforms.
Typically, the government only issues harsh reprimands or fines to platform providers, but these arrests indicate the possibility of harsher legal action against platform executives.
The case adds fuel to the debate over content moderation and the responsibility of social media platforms.
Support for Pavel Durov came from various parties, including Elon Musk who tweeted with the hashtag “#FreePavel.”
However, this case is likely to be a new milestone in the discussion about the role and responsibilities of social media platforms on the global stage.
As time goes on, we will see whether this arrest will trigger changes in regulation or simply be a unique case in the history of social media. (Z-12)
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