FOX45: French police arrest tech CEO for moderating child abuse, sparking free speech debate

The French government is facing criticism from freedom of speech advocates after the founder and CEO of chat platform Telegram was arrested at an airport near Paris over the weekend.

Pavel Durov, a Russian-born tech magnate, was arrested Saturday night at Paris-Le Bourget airport. Durov was the target of an arrest warrant issued by OFMIN, a French government agency focused on combating child sexual abuse.

OFMIN Secretary General Jean-Michel Bernigaud wrote on social media on Monday that the investigation into Durov focuses on Telegram’s “lack of moderation and cooperation,” particularly with regard to what he called “pédocriminalité,” meaning “crimes against children.”

Former US presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who ended his campaign on Friday and endorsed former President Donald Trump, wrote on social media that Durov’s arrest shows that the need to protect freedom of expression “has never been more urgent.”

X owner Elon Musk has been perhaps the most outspoken critic of the arrest, writing “#FreePavel” and warning of the implications of the French government’s actions.

“Look at this First Amendment ad. It’s very compelling,” Musk said when news of Durov’s arrest broke.

Telegram released a statement on Sunday condemning the arrest and calling “absurd” the claim that a platform owner is personally responsible for user abuse.

“Telegram complies with EU law, including the Digital Services Act. Its moderation meets industry standards and is continuously improved,” the statement said.

In response to the global backlash, French President Emmanuel Macron said Monday that outrage over the arrest is fueled by “false information”.

“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 it,” Macron said.

Social media and messaging platforms have long been scrutinized by lawmakers over content moderation. In the U.S., Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act shields social media platforms from most lawsuits over user posts.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers took on several social media executives over child sexual exploitation in February, with Sen. Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, calling for Section 230 to be amended to better hold platforms accountable and prevent online abuse.

Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, went a step further, telling Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, “You have blood on your hands.”