Key Points
- TON Society has released an open letter strongly condemning the arrest of Telegram founder Pavel Durov by French authorities, calling it a “direct assault on freedom of expression.”
- The letter urges France to release Durov immediately and calls international organizations and tech platforms to challenge France’s actions and defend user rights.
TON Society Demands Immediate Release
In a powerful open letter dated August 27, 2024, the TON Society publicly denounced the arrest of Pavel Durov, founder of the popular messaging platform Telegram. The society, closely associated with the Telegram Open Network, characterizes the arrest as a “blatant attack on the freedom of expression and the right to private life.”
The letter provides new details about Durov’s arrest, stating that he was detained at Le Bourget Airport, north of Paris, on the night August 25, 2024. It criticizes the lack of transparency from French authorities, noting that a press release with a “long-list of complicity type of charges” was only made available after nearly 48 hours.
Call for International Intervention
TON Society’s letter goes beyond merely condemning the arrest. It explicitly calls upon several international bodies to intervene, including:
- The United Nations (UN)
- The Council of Europe (CoE)
- The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
- The European Union (EU)
The society urges these organizations to “challenge France’s actions and uphold the fundamental right to liberty online.” This appeal underscores the global implications of Durov’s arrest and its potential impact on digital rights worldwide.
Defense of Telegram’s Practices
Addressing accusations against Telegram, the letter asserts that the platform’s moderation policies comply with EU laws, including the Digital Services Act. It emphasizes that Telegram’s practices meet industry standards and are continuously evolving.
The society points out the seeming inconsistency in targeting Durov, stating, “All large social networks go through moderation challenges. Yet, Mr. Durov is the only one that has been arrested.”
Legal and Ethical Implications
TON Society’s letter highlights the potential violation of rights guaranteed under the European Convention on Human Rights, of which France is a signatory. It cites a recent European Court of Human Rights decision (Podchasov v. Russia) that upheld the importance of encryption in ensuring fundamental rights.
The society expresses concern that Durov’s arrest may be an attempt by French authorities to access encrypted conversations, which would violate users’ rights to freedom of expression and privacy.
As this situation continues to unfold, the tech community and digital rights advocates worldwide are closely watching France’s next moves and the international response to this bold statement from the TON Society.
