- Arrest of Pavel Durov and Community Reaction
- Calls for International Support
- Response from French Authorities
The TON Society, representing the TON user community, has issued a call to French authorities demanding the immediate release of Pavel Durov, who was arrested on August 24 at Le Bourget Airport.
Arrest of Pavel Durov and Community Reaction
The TON Society condemns Durov's arrest as a 'direct assault on basic human rights' and a violation of free speech. The community has called for international bodies to intervene and demand that human rights be upheld.
Calls for International Support
In the letter from the TON Society, it is stated: 'The European Court of Human Rights unanimously upheld in the CASE OF PODCHASOV v. RUSSIA that 'measures for encryption contribute to ensuring the enjoyment of other fundamental rights, such as freedom of expression.' The group urged other social media companies and tech firms to resist state censorship pressures and ensure users' rights are protected.
Response from French Authorities
Despite numerous calls for Durov's release, French authorities announced an extension of his detention until August 28. Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that Durov's arrest was not politically motivated, which sparked further public outcry.
Following Durov's arrest, Rumble CEO and founder Chris Pavlovski left Europe, citing the 'threatening' stance of French authorities toward free speech.
