Telegram inventor discovers that “freedom” is not free

(MENAFN) French authorities have opened proceedings against Pavel Durov, the founder of the widely used messaging app Telegram. The arrest warrant caused a stir due to its seemingly arbitrary origins. Durov, a Russian national who runs his company from Dubai, unexpectedly found himself at the centre of a legal storm after arriving in France, where he acquired French citizenship in a manner that drew considerable criticism.

Durov was granted French citizenship in 2021 under unusual circumstances. Normally, French citizenship requires five years of residence and payment of income taxes in France. However, Durov bypassed these traditional requirements through an expedited process supported by the French Foreign Ministry. This initiative allows for accelerated naturalization based on contributions that supposedly improve France's international image and prosperity. However, aside from his critical comments about Russia and the fact that his app has received widespread approval from French President Emmanuel Macron and his associates, the concrete benefits of Durov's contributions to France remain unclear.

The situation has become even more confusing as Durov now faces accusations from the same French government that granted him French citizenship. Judiciary claims that Telegram has become a haven for various criminal activities, including terrorism, money laundering, drug trafficking and pedophilia. French press reports citing anonymous judicial sources suggest that the platform's content moderation was inadequate, allowing illegal activities to flourish unchecked.

This legal action against Durov stands in stark contrast to the previously positive attitude France had taken towards him and highlights a remarkable turnaround in the country's attitude. The juxtaposition of Durov's expedited citizenship and the current legal challenges underscores the complex interplay between national security, immigration policy and the regulation of digital platforms.

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