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BREAKING: French Authorities Detain Telegram CEO Pavel Durov Amidst Ongoing Investigations, May Face 20 Years Jail-Term If Convicted, Authorities Say
In a developing story, a French television network reported that Pavel Durov, the CEO of the renowned messaging app Telegram...
Author by
Ayanfe Fakunle
In a developing story, a French television network reported that Pavel Durov, the CEO of the renowned messaging app Telegram, was taken into custody in France last night as he landed on French soil to refuel his jet.
Durov was taken into custody on a Saturday evening at about 8:00 PM while exiting his private jet at France’s Bourget airport. The arrest was executed under a warrant for offenses linked to the popular messaging app. The Russian embassy in France is reportedly taking swift steps to clarify the situation.
The 39-year-old tech entrepreneur’s commitment to privacy and freedom of speech has earned him a reputation as a champion of digital rights. As he once told US journalist Tucker Carlson, “I would rather be free than to take orders from anyone.”
Telegram, with nearly one billion users, holds big influence in Russia, Ukraine, and the republics of the former Soviet Union. It was banned in Russia in 2018 after a previous refusal by Mr Durov to hand over user data. However, the ban was reversed in 2021. Today, Telegram is ranked as one of the top social media platforms after Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, and WeChat.
The arrest of Durov has raised dust flying fast and furious about the future of Telegram and its leadership. The French Interior Ministry and police had no comment. Durov was expected to appear in court on August 25.
The Charges Against Durov
The charges against Pavel Durov are related to serious criminal activities allegedly facilitated through his messaging platform. The charges include complicity in drug trafficking, crimes against children, and fraud due to lacking moderation on Telegram, per a Reuters report. The investigation is focused on Telegram’s lack of moderators, with police alleging that its setup could cause criminal activity to go unchecked.
Durov could face big-time penalties, including fines and possibly 20 years jail time if found guilty. Albeit, the exact penalties would depend on the specific laws under which he is charged and the severity of the alleged offenses. It’s also possible that Durov’s arrest could have implications for Telegram, potentially leading to changes in its operations or policies.
The Tech World, TON Community, and the Social Media Stand With Durov, Calling For His ‘Unconditional’ Release
The tech community has expressed different reactions to Pavel Durov’s arrest. Concerns over privacy and security have been raised, with the arrest sparking a debate about the balance between these two aspects and government oversight. The tech sector is closely watching the fallout from Durov’s arrest. If the legal proceedings against him escalate, it could lead to a larger crackdown on similar platforms, potentially affecting the stock prices of companies that rely on user-generated content and encrypted messaging.
The public reaction to Pavel Durov’s arrest on social media platforms has been quite huge and varied. Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, took to his social media platform to share his reactions to Durov’s arrest, promoting a ‘#FreePavel’ hashtag. Musk shared a theoretical idea that it’s now six years later, after Durov’s arrest, and people are “being executed for liking a meme.”
He used the hashtag alongside Durov’s interview with Tucker Carlson, where Durov praised Musk for promoting free speech.
The TON Ecosystem and the price of Toncoin have been largely affected by the news of Pavel Durov’s arrest. Toncoin, the cryptocurrency linked to Telegram, saw a sharp fall following the news of Durov’s arrest.
Toncoin (TON) is down 9.29% over the past seven days. Source: CoinMarketCap
TON bottomed by 13% to 14.5% in the 24 hours following the announcement. At the time of the reports, Toncoin was trading above $5.75.
The TON community quickly issued a statement expressing its firm support for Durov and emphasizing that the operation and mission of the community will not be affected by this incident.
Ayanfe Fakunle is an expert content writer, journalist, and editor at the intersection of crypto, finance, and web3. His mission is to make crypto accessible, engaging, and exciting for everyone.
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