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In an unexpected turn of events, the CEO of messaging app Telegram, Pavel Durov, was arrested in Paris over the weekend. French authorities are investigating claims that Telegram has facilitated a range of criminal activities.
Free speech costs
By facilitate, we should refer to Telegram’s end-to-end encryption feature. This is not the default setting for regular chats or group chats, this feature needs to be specifically enabled.
Durov’s arrest, took place at Bourget airport, as stated by Reuters. Authorities allege that Telegram’s hands-off approach to content moderation has inadvertently created a safe haven for cybercriminals engaged in child pornography, money laundering, fraud, and drug trafficking.
President Emanuel Macron’s statement on this arrest
I have seen false information regarding France following the arrest of Pavel Durov.
France is deeply committed to freedom of expression and communication, to innovation, and to the spirit of entrepreneurship. It will remain so.
In a state governed by the rule of law, freedoms are upheld within a legal framework, both on social media and in real life, to protect citizens and respect their fundamental rights.
It is up to the judiciary, in full independence, to enforce the law.
The arrest of the president of Telegram on French soil took place as part of an ongoing judicial investigation. It is in no way a political decision. It is up to the judges to rule on the matter.
Source: Twitter/X
End-to-end Encryption
This is a communication security method that allows only the original sender and the intended recipient to decipher and read the messages. Denying any third party to access the data while is being transmitted, or to alter it in transit.
Telegram’s secret chat is utilizing asymmetric encryption, meaning a pair of keys for each user: a public key and a private key. The public key is shared openly, while the private key is kept, of course, secret. Final step is using the shared key from the Diffie-Hellman exchange for what is called symmetric encryption of the actual message content. All happening while Telegram ensured that only the allowed devices (MACs) or digital signatures can perform these actions.
Privacy vs Security
This incident highlights a growing tension between privacy advocates and law enforcement agencies worldwide.
As the investigation unfolds, it remains to be seen how this incident will impact Telegram and it’s users. Also, this outcome could also influence how other encrypted communication platforms(Signal) approach content moderation.
Update: Telegram Usage Limited for Ukrainian Officials Due to National Security Risks
Update September 25: Telegram’s Shift in Privacy: CEO Arrest Sparks Data Access Controversy