The TON Society has issued an open letter to French authorities, demanding the immediate release of Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov, who was detained at Le Bourget Airport on August 24.
TON Society's appeal
In its letter, TON Society condemned Pavel Durov's detention as a violation of a basic human right and freedom of speech. The organization called upon international bodies such as the United Nations, the Council of Europe, and the European Union to intervene and pressure France to uphold human rights. The letter cited the European Court of Human Rights' decision in the case of Podchasov v. Russia, which states that 'encryption measures contribute to ensuring other fundamental rights, such as freedom of expression.'
French authorities' response
Despite growing calls for Durov's release, French authorities announced they were extending his detainment until August 28, as part of an ongoing investigation into an unnamed user reportedly using the Telegram platform for illegal purposes. French President Emmanuel Macron stated that Durov's arrest was not political, but this response only garnered more backlash from the online community.
Consequences of the arrest
Following Durov's arrest, Rumble CEO and founder Chris Pavlovski left Europe, citing the 'threatening' posture of the French government towards Rumble and the risk of potential detentions of other tech executives associated with free speech projects.
The public outcry over Pavel Durov's detention continues to grow, bringing international attention to potential violations of human rights and free speech.
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