Elon Musk and Edward Snowden are making waves this week after condemning the arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov, sparking a fiery debate about free speech in the digital age. 🚨
Musk fired off a post on X (formerly Twitter) with the hashtag #FreePavel, arguing that 'silencing tech innovators undermines democracy.' Snowden, the whistleblower-turned-privacy-advocate, accused French authorities of 'weaponizing the law' to access encrypted messages, calling it a 'dark day for human rights.' 💬🔒
Durov—the billionaire behind the encrypted app used by 1 billion people—was detained at a Paris airport Saturday. French officials claim Telegram failed to curb illegal content like cyberbullying and extremist material. But critics say the move reeks of political theater, especially since Telegram is a lifeline in war zones like Ukraine. 🌍⚡
Russia’s government has demanded consular access to Durov, who holds French and UAE citizenship, labeling his arrest 'a Western plot.' Meanwhile, Telegram insists it complies with EU rules, arguing CEOs shouldn’t be held responsible for user behavior. 🤔💼
This high-stakes drama isn’t just about one CEO—it’s a battle over who controls the internet’s last truly private space. As Snowden warned: 'If they can jail Durov, no one’s safe.' 🛡️🌐
