It’s been almost 80 years since the end of World War II and fascism has once again reared its ugly head in Europe where the so-called “Western democracies” are waging a ruthless war on free speech.
On Saturday, authorities in France arrested Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of the encrypted messaging app Telegram whose platform has gained in popularity as authoritarian regimes have flexed their censorship powers in a sweeping crackdown on dissent, especially across the pond.
The 39-year-old billionaire was taken into custody by police after he landed at Le Bourget airport at around 8 p.m. after he flew in from Azerbaijan, according to French media outlet TF1 Info.
The country’s authorities reportedly claim that Telegram’s encryption tools make it complicit in such criminal activity as drug trafficking, conspiracy, and pedophilia although the warrant was only subject to enforcement if Durov was on French soil, which he was when his private plane landed.
“He made a blunder this evening. We don’t know why… Was this flight just a stopover? In any case, he’s in custody,” an unnamed source “close to the investigation” told the outlet.
The arrest would seem to be a dramatic escalation in the assault on political dissent and free speech and was condemned by users on X, another platform that is in the crosshairs of fascists both in Europe and elsewhere on the globe.
Pavel Durov left Russia when the government tried to control his social media company, Telegram. But in the end, it wasn’t Putin who arrested him for allowing the public to exercise free speech. It was a western country, a Biden administration ally and enthusiastic NATO member,… https://t.co/F83E9GbNHC
— Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) August 24, 2024
“Pavel Durov left Russia when the government tried to control his social media company, Telegram. But in the end, it wasn’t Putin who arrested him for allowing the public to exercise free speech. It was a Western country, a Biden administration ally and enthusiastic NATO member, that locked him away,” Tucker Carlson wrote.
“Pavel Durov sits in a French jail tonight, a living warning to any platform owner who refuses to censor the truth at the behest of governments and intel agencies. Darkness is descending fast on the formerly free world,” added the man who is arguably the most important journalist in the world, sharing his interview with Durov from earlier this year.
France just arrested Pavel Durov, founder & CEO of the encrypted, uncensored Telegram platform. The need to protect free speech has never been more urgent.
— Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) August 25, 2024
“France just arrested Pavel Durov, founder & CEO of the encrypted, uncensored Telegram platform. The need to protect free speech has never been more urgent,” wrote Robert F. Kennedy Jr. who just suspended his third party campaign and endorsed Donald J. Trump, the only choice when it comes to protecting free speech.
More reactions to the shocking move by the French/Euro regime.
The arrest of Telegram founder Pavel Durov is a paradigm-shifting event. Western governments have declared war on free expression.
The US needs a government that will stand up to Europe and oppose the Digital Services Act. https://t.co/YeOCZUv0Hdhttps://t.co/x4EiGRV0Vt https://t.co/bUBOMcXaBp
— Matt Taibbi (@mtaibbi) August 25, 2024
Do you understand the severity of what is happening yet? Pavel Durov truly believes in free speech and created a platform the deep state doesn’t have access to, so now they have arrested him.
This is madness. The western world is not free. Perhaps it never has been. https://t.co/8fEIaClWSv— Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) August 24, 2024
If the White House doesn’t immediately condemn the arrest of Pavel Durov, you know exactly what to expect from a Harris administration:
Unbridled censorship and a war on freedom of speech.
Vote accordingly. https://t.co/4l6QNUVK2x
— John LeFevre (@JohnLeFevre) August 24, 2024
Imagine you own a large apartment complex.
France says, “It is a legal requirement to put microphones in every room and let us listen.”
You say, “No, people should be able to have private conversations.”
They arrest you.
The digital equivalent just happened to Pavel Durov.
— Sean Linehan (@seanlinehan) August 24, 2024
I am sickened by Pavel Durov’s arrest.
France is another unsafe country to travel to.
The Western world has gone crazy.— Robert W Malone, MD (@RWMaloneMD) August 25, 2024
The UK threatened to arrest Elon Musk because he allows freedom of speech in X. France arrested Pavel Durov of Telegram for not allowing intelligence agencies to spy on users. This was a clear death threat against Elon Musk and all Americans.
— Cernovich (@Cernovich) August 25, 2024
Durov’s arrest comes after a top EU bureaucrat threatened X owner Elon Musk over his recent interview with Trump. Some authorities in the U.K. have also threatened to have Americans extradited and prosecuted for their social media activity.
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