In this post:
- Before Romania’s election, Pavel Durov, the inventor of Telegram, turned down a request from a Western European government to filter political information.
- Durov’s position on digital freedom and platform neutrality is widely endorsed by the crypto community.
- In August 2024, Durov was detained in France, which sparked a global discussion about government pressure on digital platforms and free expression.
A Western European government’s proposal to restrict conservative voices on Telegram in advance of Romania’s presidential runoff election was openly denied by Telegram creator Pavel Durov.
Durov highlighted the value of free speech and free elections in a May 18 Telegram post, saying, “You can’t ‘defend democracy’ by destroying democracy.” Interfering with elections is not a way to “fight election interference.” Fair elections and freedom of speech are either available to you or they are not. The Romanian people are deserving of both.
The government was not identified by Durov. However, his use of the baguette emoji was widely taken to be a reference to France.
Given that Romania was in the midst of a contentious presidential election, the timing was concerning. According to some sources, the censorship request was made in an attempt to silence conservative remarks that went against the official line.
The foreign ministry of France has refuted any connection. According to a Reuters statement, it demanded that Romania “respect the democratic process.”
Nevertheless, a lot of people supported Durov’s stance, especially in the international IT and cryptocurrency communities.
Leaders in cryptocurrency applaud Durov’s defiance
A number of prominent figures within the cryptocurrency world commended Mr. Durov for his disobedience. In the world of cryptocurrency, Telegram has gained recognition as a platform.
He is seen as a defender of digital freedom, advocating for freedom of expression, privacy, and encryption. His Telegram client is well-liked by traders, privacy advocates, and cryptocurrency developers.
After his post on May 18, the cryptocurrency community came together in support of him. His letter was reposted by other tech leaders who praised him for defying the government. According to some, the nudge is the “gold standard” that other platforms should strive for in politically sensitive times.
Others mentioned the history of Telegram. Other platforms frequently comply with government takedown orders, but Telegram has mostly resisted, taking a non-interventionist stance, especially when it comes to political discourse. In nations where media independence is waning, the platform has turned into a lifeline for independent voices.
Durov’s stance merely serves to confirm that impression. The CEO of the free-speech video portal Rumble, Chris Pavlovski, also voiced his support. He claimed there was a need for more tech founders who were prepared to make such a commitment.
Crypto proponents argue that decentralization and freedom of speech are two sides of the same coin. They see Durov as the guardian of the digital age’s free thought communications infrastructure rather than just the steward of a messaging software.
Debate about free speech was triggered by Durov’s arrest
Durov’s relationship with the governments of Europe has been turbulent. Durov was taken into custody at an airport in Paris in August 2024. The arrest, according to French police, was related to a criminal investigation into the dissemination of unlawful content via Telegram, including purported drug sales and propaganda supporting terrorism.
Outrage was triggered by the arrest. Most people saw it as a push driven by politics. Critics claimed that France exerted pressure on Telegram to impose greater restrictions and stricter regulations.
French President Emmanuel Macron refuted these claims on August 26 and reaffirmed France’s support for free speech and communication. Leaders in the crypto world were not very persuaded by his remarks, though.
Mert Mumtaz, the CEO of Helius Labs, claimed that it was hypocritical for the company’s founders to be held personally liable and perhaps sentenced to 20 years in prison for failing to censor speech, despite their claims to be passionate about free speech.
Later, Durov stated that Telegram complies with legitimate demands from law authorities. The business answers these inquiries in France, where it has a lawyer.
He claimed that the fact that officials issued an arrest warrant rather than using this procedure was worrisome.
He said it was an assault on the core principles of justice and the rule of law, not on him.
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