Pavel Durov: Telegram
If they can come for Pavel Durov, they can come for any tech billionaire with four citizenships providing an encrypted platform for rogue states and organised crime networks and refusing to cooperate with investigations.
Overnight, Pavel Durov, owner of Telegram, and a woman who traveled with him were arrested in France. If you spent any time on Twitter, you know the usual suspects on the far right, and the tech bros are attacking France, calling this an attack on free speech. Realize he left Russia in 2014 after he was forced to sell VK.
So, let me first deal with the reasons for the arrest. This is via French media:
Listed in the FPR (wanted persons file), Pavel Durov had arrived straight from Azerbaijan. He had a French search warrant over his head issued by the Minors Office (OFMIN) of the national directorate of the French judicial police, on the basis of a preliminary investigation.
Justice considers that the lack of moderation, cooperation with law enforcement and the tools offered by Telegram (disposable number, cryptocurrencies, etc.) make it an accomplice in drug trafficking, pedocriminal offences and fraud.
This search warrant was valid if, and only…