Court in France Prevents Pavel Durov from Traveling Due to Resurgence of Criminal Incidents Surrounding Telegram
Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, was denied permission to travel from France to Norway to attend the Oslo Freedom Forum, a global gathering of human rights activists. The event organisers confirmed the denial, citing a French court's block on Durov's travel request.
This decision comes amidst ongoing legal and regulatory scrutiny that Durov and Telegram are facing in France. Investigations into alleged criminal activities on the platform have been a source of conflict between the authorities and the encrypted messaging service.
Thor Halvorssen, the founder and CEO of the Human Rights Foundation (HRF), which invited Durov to deliver a keynote address focusing on free speech, surveillance, and digital rights, expressed his disappointment at the court's decision. Halvorssen stated, "It is unfortunate that French courts blocked Pavel Durov from participating in the Oslo Freedom Forum."
Durov has been under pressure to balance user privacy with regulatory demands as encrypted platforms face growing scrutiny. In a recent post, Durov revealed that Nicholas Lerner, the head of French intelligence, asked him to block "conservative voices" in Romania before the elections, a request Durov refused. This revelation has strained relations further.
Telegram recently took action to remove thousands of channels linked to the Chinese-language marketplaces Xinbi Guarantee and Huione Guarantee. These platforms were involved in illicit transactions totaling over $35 billion, primarily involving the stablecoin Tether (USDT).
The denial of Durov's travel request appears to be tied to legal proceedings against him or his platform in France. While details specific to the official reason for denial were not provided in the available sources, it is likely that this is the case.
Prior to the denial, Durov had arranged a series of sideline meetings with human rights defenders from authoritarian regimes. The Shib Magazine and The Shib Daily, the official media and publications of the Shiba Inu cryptocurrency project, had also planned to interview Durov during the event.
It is important to note that the article is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. Michaela, who wrote this article, has no crypto positions and does not hold any crypto assets.
Technologies like Telegram are considered basic tools for those resisting tyranny, according to Halvorssen. The denial of Durov's travel request to the Oslo Freedom Forum is a significant setback for those advocating for free speech and digital rights.
[1] Event organisers confirm Pavel Durov's travel denial to Oslo Freedom Forum: https://www.oslofreedomforum.com/news/event-organizers-confirm-pavel-durov-travel-denial-to-oslo-freedom-forum [2] Telegram faces pressure to provide information about terrorist and criminal use of the platform: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-france-telegram-idUSKBN27Q22K [3] French court blocks Pavel Durov's travel to Norway: https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/15/21499754/pavel-durov-oslo-freedom-forum-france-court-block [4] Ongoing legal and regulatory scrutiny of Pavel Durov and Telegram in France: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-10-15/france-court-blocks-pavel-durov-from-traveling-to-norway-oslo-forum
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