{"id":2331107,"date":"2024-08-26T14:37:01","date_gmt":"2024-08-26T18:37:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/macron-says-arrest-of-telegram-ceo-is-not-censorship-no-way-a-political-decision-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-08-26T14:41:11","modified_gmt":"2024-08-26T18:41:11","slug":"macron-says-arrest-of-telegram-ceo-is-not-censorship-no-way-a-political-decision-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/macron-says-arrest-of-telegram-ceo-is-not-censorship-no-way-a-political-decision-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Macron says arrest of Telegram CEO is not censorship: \u2018No way a political decision\u2019 &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">34<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fmacron-says-arrest-of-telegram-ceo-is-not-censorship-no-way-a-political-decision-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2331107&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>French President Emmanuel Macron has stated that \u200cthe arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel\u2064 Durov was not <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/breaking-kyle-rittenhouse-finally-released-on-2-million-cash-bond\/\" title=\"BREAKING: Kyle Rittenhouse FINALLY Released on  Million Cash Bond\">politically motivated<\/a> but part of an ongoing judicial investigation. Durov was detained upon his arrival in France from Azerbaijan, although no specific \u2062charges have yet been disclosed. Jean-Michel Bernigaud, who heads the French agency OFMIN, hinted that the arrest is related to Durov&#8217;s alleged failure \u2063to cooperate in moderating content on Telegram, particularly concerning the \u200cfight against pedophilia.<\/p>\n<p>Telegram, a messaging app\u2063 popular in Russia, Ukraine, and various European countries, has been exploited by terrorist organizations like Hamas to \u200cdisseminate \u2064propaganda and communicate. Unlike\u200c major platforms like Meta and\u2063 Google,\u200d Durov has been known to\u2063 disregard government requests for user\u200c data. He\u200b initially gained fame by creating VKontakte, a Russian social media \u2062platform, and left Russia in 2014 after being pressured by officials.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Macron says arrest of Telegram CEO is not censorship: &lsquo;No way a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/no-spike-in-florida-coronavirus-cases-despite-no-mask-mandate\/\" title=\"No Spike in Florida Coronavirus Cases Despite No Mask Mandate\">political decision<\/a>&rsquo;<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1737933\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/france\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>French<\/a> President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/emmanuel-macron\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Emmanuel Macron<\/a> said the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/prison\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>arrest<\/a> of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov was not politically motivated.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;The arrest of the Telegram president on French territory took place as part of an ongoing judicial investigation,&rdquo; Macron <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/EmmanuelMacron\/status\/1828073770461921594?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1828073770461921594%7Ctwgr%5Ec051aa8888fddd4598b8479b9e78217ecdf827f1%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fiframe.nbcnews.com%2FE0WUXzx%3F_showcaption%3Dtrueapp%3D1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>wrote<\/a> on X. &ldquo;This is in no way a political decision. It is up to the judges to decide.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>French authorities apprehended Durov upon his&nbsp;arrival in the country from a flight coming from Azerbaijan.<\/p>\n<p>While French authorities have yet to announce any specific charges against Durov, Jean-Michel Bernigaud, head of the French agency OFMIN, which investigates crimes against children, shared on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/posts\/jean-michel-bernigaud-426a181a8_p%C3%A9docriminalit%C3%A9-les-failles-dinstagram-activity-7233721525747486721-9AHq\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>LinkedIn<\/a> that Durov&rsquo;s arrest stems from a lack of cooperation in moderating the platform, including fighting the spreading of pedophilic content. <\/p>\n<p>Telegram is a message channeling app extremely popular in Russia, Ukraine, and other European countries. Terrorist groups such as Hamas have used the platform to communicate with one another and to spread information about their organizations. They have used Telegram to spread graphic videos from Oct. 7, 2023, and also propaganda material. It has also been used by drug traffickers and other crime organizations.<\/p>\n<p>Unlike Meta and Google, which both work to comply with court orders to share with officials the date of users suspected of crimes, Durov said in an interview with Tucker Carlson that he typically ignores government requests.<\/p>\n<p>Known as the Russian Mark Zuckerberg, Durov first gained prominence by creating the social media network VKontakte. He fled Russia in 2014 after officials called on him to share data on Ukrainian users with the Kremlin.<\/p>\n<p>He then created Telegram with the intention of giving people a platform without government censorship or intervention. Telegram has been criticized for the spread of criminal activity and violence, but Durov said his company works to take down harmful content.<\/p>\n<p>France faces allegations that it is attempting to control and censor speech. Even Russian officials are coming after their French counterparts for what they see as censorship.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The French continue their fight for &lsquo;freedom of speech&rsquo; and &lsquo;European values,&rsquo;&rdquo; Russian lawmaker Andrey Klishas posted on Telegram.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>However, Macron insisted, France is not seeking to censor Durov or Telegram users but to ensure that its citizens&rsquo; rights and freedoms are protected.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;In a state governed by the rule of law, on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/michigans-matt-sealy-explains-how-president-trump-has-several-paths-to-victorynever-count-donald-trump-out-video\/\" title=\"Michigan\u2019s Matt Sealy Explains How President Trump Has SEVERAL Paths To Victory\u2026\u201dNever count Donald Trump out!\u201d[VIDEO]\">social networks<\/a> as in real life, freedoms are exercised within a framework established by law to protect citizens and respect their fundamental rights,&rdquo; Macron said. &ldquo;France is committed to freedom of expression and communication, innovation and entrepreneurship. And it will remain so.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1737933\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1737933\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>French President Emmanuel Macron stated that the arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov was not a political act. He clarified on X that Durov&#8217;s apprehension in France was part of an ongoing judicial inquiry and emphasized, &#8220;This is in no way a political decision. It is up to the judges to decide.&#8221; Durov was detained upon arriving from Azerbaijan, but French authorities have not yet disclosed specific charges against him. Jean-Michel Bernigaud, head of the French agency OFMIN which investigates crimes against children, indicated on LinkedIn that Durov&#8217;s arrest relates to his lack of cooperation in moderating content on the platform, particularly regarding pedophilic material.<\/p>\n<p>Telegram is widely used in Russia, Ukraine, and other European nations and has been utilized by terrorist groups like Hamas for communication and propaganda purposes. The platform has also been exploited by drug traffickers and criminal organizations. Unlike companies such as Meta and Google that comply with court orders to provide user data related to criminal activities, Durov mentioned in an interview with Tucker Carlson that he generally disregards government requests.<\/p>\n<p>Durov gained fame as the creator of VKontakte before fleeing Russia in 2014 when pressured by officials to share data about Ukrainian users with the Kremlin. He subsequently launched Telegram with a vision of providing a space free from government censorship or interference. Despite facing criticism for facilitating criminal activity and violence, Durov asserted that his company actively works to remove harmful content.<\/p>\n<p>France has faced accusations regarding its attempts at controlling speech; even Russian officials have criticized their French counterparts for perceived censorship efforts. Russian lawmaker Andrey Klishas remarked on Telegram about France&#8217;s commitment to &#8220;freedom of speech&#8221; while Macron maintained that France does not aim to censor Durov or Telegram users but rather seeks to protect citizens&#8217; rights and freedoms within a legal framework designed for their safety.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;In a state governed by the rule of law,&#8221; Macron stated, &#8220;freedoms are exercised within boundaries established by law to safeguard citizens&#8217; fundamental rights.&#8221; He reaffirmed France\u2019s dedication to freedom of expression, communication, innovation, and entrepreneurship<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2542,"featured_media":2331108,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/pavel-durov-arrest-france.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[5175,6371,6103,35836,3757],"class_list":["post-2331107","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-arrest","tag-censorship","tag-macron","tag-political-decision","tag-telegram"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/pavel-durov-arrest-france.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2331107","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2542"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2331107"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2331107\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2331108"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2331107"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2331107"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2331107"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}