Freedom with responsibility

The arrest of Pavel Durov, founder of Telegram, in France has sparked battles on several fronts. First and foremost, it is seen as an almost eternal conflict between free speech and state control. At the same time, many see it as a manifestation of growing geopolitical tensions between Russia and France. However, Durov's arrest could have other consequences as well.

First things first, the idea of ​​free speech — which has been shaped and developed over centuries — is accepted by today's world with the caveat of “reasonable restrictions.” Although Durav comes across as a champion of free speech, he deviates from this established concept. In today's times, lack of information is not a problem at all. News spreads almost instantly on the internet, social media platforms, and direct messaging apps like Telegram. The challenge, however, is to filter out credible information that does not have the potential to create unrest and harm the public. Any platform that simply refuses to take on this responsibility fails to understand the information demands of today's times. In fact, it has become almost impossible to control the spread of misinformation and propaganda, but the idea of ​​condemning this possibility entirely is frightening.

Currently, Telegram is said to serve as an unrestricted channel for information, but also misinformation, in Russia and Ukraine – resulting in what some are calling a “virtual battlefield.” The question is: if a platform is capable of escalating an already destructive and deadly war, how can it be absolved of responsibility to maintain appropriate controls on “free speech”? The same line of reasoning applies to the charges on which France arrested Durov – distribution of child pornography, drug trafficking, and fraudulent transactions on the platform. If the cherished right to free speech can lead to such dangerous consequences, it is imperative to make distinctions using qualifiers such as “absolute” and “reasonably restricted.”

Aside from the debate about freedom of speech, Durov's arrest has apparently also acquired geopolitical relevance. Russia, which had already initiated a ban on Telegram in 2018, is now said to have used the platform itself to spread war-related information and other critical communications. Due to impending restrictions, Durov was forced to flee Russia a decade ago and eventually acquired dual citizenship of France and the United Arab Emirates.

Vyacheslav Volodin, the chairman of Russia's State Duma – the lower house of parliament – had previously warned that the US was trying to exert control over Telegram through France. Even Durov had previously claimed that the US FBI was trying to gain access to the platform through a backdoor. Given that the Russian Defense Ministry, powerful companies and security agencies are said to have used the platform for critical communications, the Kremlin has now asked those involved to delete their conversations from the platform. Ironically, amidst all this, the Kremlin may also be considering suppressing the existence of Telegram itself. Telegram has long been used as a platform to raise the voices of the opposition in Russia against the government. Currently, the government and opposition in Russia are jointly in favor of Telegram and Durov. However, the government could benefit more from the decimation of Telegram if its security concerns are somehow addressed.

Beyond national borders, the arrest of the Telegram CEO has also created a rift between the tech giants and governments. Elon Musk spoke in favor of the absolutist idea of ​​free speech – something that Durov also stands for. The outcome of the court case in France will answer many questions and raise some too!