What's happened
Pavel Durov, founder of Telegram, was arrested in France over allegations of insufficient moderation on the platform. The UAE has requested consular access for Durov, who remains in custody amid international scrutiny and claims of political motivations behind his detention.
Why it matters
What the papers say
The Independent reported that Durov's arrest was linked to insufficient moderation on Telegram, with President Macron denying political motivations. The Moscow Times highlighted the UAE's request for consular services, emphasizing Durov's citizenship. Politico noted the international outcry, including criticism from figures like Elon Musk, who argued that Durov's detention threatens free speech. The NY Post detailed the allegations against Durov, including claims of allowing criminal activity on the platform, while also noting Telegram's defense of its moderation practices.
How we got here
Durov, a dual citizen of France and the UAE, has faced scrutiny since Telegram's rise to prominence. His arrest follows accusations of failing to curb illegal activities on the platform, which has nearly 1 billion users globally.
More on these topics
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Telegram is a cloud-based instant messaging, videotelephony and voice over IP service. Telegram client apps are available for Android, iOS, Windows Phone, Windows, macOS and GNU/Linux and originated in Russia.
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France, officially the French Republic, is a country consisting of metropolitan France in Western Europe and several overseas regions and territories.
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The United Arab Emirates, sometimes simply called the Emirates, is a sovereign state in Western Asia at the northeast end of the Arabian Peninsula on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman to the east and Saudi Arabia to the south and west, as well as sharing m