Posted originally on the CTH on August 24, 2024 | Sundance 

Pavel Durov and his brother Nikolai are genuinely brilliant tech programmers, mathematicians and entrepreneurs.  The Durov brothers founded the Telegram communication app in 2013.  Telegram now has 950 million active users who can send messages, photos and videos, take part in chats for groups of up to 200,000 people and broadcast to unlimited audiences.

Telegram is the preferred messaging and communication app for those concerned with privacy.  In my own travels, plans and purposeful interactions, I use Telegram frequently.  It is the best communication tool available, and the tech interface is brilliant. However, various government agencies hate Telegram because of the privacy it provides.

Pavel and Nikolai Durov are originally Russian; their app was created and tested deep inside the surveillance state.  The Russian government could not compromise it, and Pavel’s unwavering perspective on private communication has been thoroughly tested in subsequent years.  Telegram is a success because Pavel Durov has proven he is trustworthy.

Pavel Durov was just arrested by the French government for refusing to compromise on the user privacy of his app.

ReclaimTheNet – […] Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of the encrypted messaging app Telegram, was arrested this Saturday evening, according to French media.

The incident occurred at Le Bourget Airport just as Durov, accompanied by a bodyguard and a woman, disembarked from his private jet. Durov, who holds dual Franco-Russian citizenship and is 39 years old, had just arrived from Azerbaijan.

The arrest was executed by members of the GTA (Gendarmerie of Air Transport), acting on a French search warrant. This warrant, issued by the OFMIN of the national directorate of the French judicial police, was based on allegations that Telegram’s operational policies — specifically its lack of censorship and lack of cooperation with law enforcement’s censorship demands, along with features such as disposable phone numbers and cryptocurrency transactions — indirectly support illicit activities.

Emphasis below, mine!

[…] The arrest of Durov marks a major escalation in the global debate over the balance between privacy and security, and could have profound implications across multiple dimensions:

Legal Precedent: This incident could set a legal precedent for how nations handle the regulation of encrypted communication platforms. If Durov is prosecuted for the actions of users on his platform, it might lead to increased pressure on other tech companies to monitor and control user behavior, potentially compromising the commitment to user privacy.

Government Surveillance and Privacy: The case highlights the tension between government surveillance and individual privacy rights. Governments may use this incident as a justification to demand greater access to encrypted communications, arguing that it’s necessary for national security and law enforcement. This could lead to broader legal and regulatory changes that erode privacy protections in digital spaces. (read more)

In the wake of the attempted assassination of President Trump, we have already seen the professionals in DC start the process to outlaw private communication apps like Telegram. {See Here}  The Intelligence Community would like to remove the ability of Americans to communicate privately without the government intercepts.

The BASELINE – The Durov brothers are exceptionally gifted.  In reference to the principle of freedom and liberty that guides Pavel, he has my respect, and I understand his value system with great clarity.  Pavel Durov recognized very early, much earlier than most, that information would be fulcrum challenge, and without private communication the value of information is always eroded.  Privacy is critical in order for accurate information to flow.  That is the value of Telegram.

Durov controls Telegram.  Durov is the owner and proprietor of Telegram.  Durov talks openly about the *touches* from U.S. intelligence and government officials toward him and his communication platform.  He is very open about the contacts by FBI and various intel officials, and notes those conversations were always unnerving.

Elon Musk controls Twitter. Elon Musk was talking about the importance of user privacy and security at the exact same time he was secretly complying with the DOJ to give the metadata of all Donald Trump supporters from his platform.  These things do not reconcile, and I refuse to pretend the conflict between Musk’s words and his actions doesn’t exist.  When he first bought the platform, Elon Musk promised that Direct Messages (DM’s) on Twitter would be encrypted. After the first few stories about DHS controlling Twitter content, ie “the Twitter Files”, Musk never followed through.

“This situation [with Pavel Durov] is a litmus test for the future of digital privacy, encryption, and the role of tech companies in moderating content and cooperating with law enforcement. The global implications of how this case is handled are significant, potentially affecting not only the tech industry but also the privacy rights of individuals worldwide.”