The World Underestimates the Significance of Telegram's Founder Being Arrested
48 hours ago, Telegram's founder, Pavel Durov, was arrested near Paris.
Durov, a Russian-born entrepreneur, created Telegram, which has nearly 1 billion users. The Russian government is demanding his extradition, citing Telegram's use by terrorists and for child pornography.
However, Durov's story is more complex.
He first founded VK, Russia’s largest social network, but lost it after refusing to cooperate with the Russian government. This led him to create Telegram, designed to resist authoritarian control and support global communication.
Despite Telegram's role in many democratic movements, including the 2020 Belarus protests, Durov is now facing 12 charges in France, including possession of child pornography.
Critics overlook that Durov has long opposed authoritarian regimes, making him a target not only for Russia but also for Western governments leaning toward authoritarianism.
Russia's extradition request serves three purposes: shaming Western values, damaging Durov’s reputation, and potentially gaining control over Telegram.
These charges could apply to any social media platform, and the outcome will have significant implications for Western liberal values, which are under unprecedented threat.
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