Telegram founder Pavel Durov arrested in France, TON price drops 16%

In a shocking development, Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, was arrested at a French airport. Durov, a staunch free speech advocate, has long been a thorn in the side of governments that seek to control information. He previously made headlines for leaving Russia after refusing to hand over user data to the government, marking him as a digital privacy and freedom champion.

The arrest has raised eyebrows globally, particularly given the circumstances. Tucker Carlson, who interviewed Durov in April, commented on the arrest, noting the irony that it wasn’t Vladimir Putin or the Russian authorities who detained Durov for his commitment to free speech. Instead, it was France—a Western nation allied with the Biden administration and a member of NATO—that decided to take action against him.

Carlson’s tweet highlighted the growing concerns about the erosion of free speech in what were once considered bastions of democracy. Durov’s detention serves as a stark reminder to platform owners and digital entrepreneurs worldwide about the increasing pressure to comply with government demands for censorship. Critics argue that this move could signal a broader crackdown on platforms that resist censorship and protect user privacy.

Impact on TON’s Price

The news of Durov’s arrest has had immediate repercussions in the crypto world, particularly impacting the price of TON, Telegram’s native cryptocurrency. Within an hour of the news breaking, TON’s price dropped by a staggering 16%.

As the world watches, Durov’s case could set a precedent for how nations handle the delicate balance between security, privacy, and the right to free speech in the digital age. The implications for the future of internet freedom are significant, and this incident underscores the need for vigilance in protecting the digital rights of individuals globally.

Mentioned in this article