Kaylah Walton
Elon Musk has made headlines by standing up for Pavel Durov, co-founder of Telegram. Durov was recently arrested in Paris over allegations of enabling criminal activities on his messaging platform. Musk wasted no time in voicing his support by using the hashtag #FreePavel on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
The billionaire Elon Musk didn’t just defend Durov; he also took aim at Mark Zuckerberg, accusing the Meta CEO of succumbing to censorship demands. Musk criticized Zuckerberg for allegedly permitting child exploitation on Instagram and providing governments with access to user data. This move ignited a debate surrounding free speech, censorship, and the responsibilities of tech leaders.
Pavel Durov, known for advocating free speech, has a history of challenging authorities. He previously clashed with the Russian government over encryption data and fled the country in 2014. Durov’s messaging app, Telegram, known for its privacy features, has faced scrutiny for allegedly harboring criminal activities.
Despite Durov’s fortune estimated at $15.5 billion, he faces serious charges including terrorism, narcotics, and child pornography. His commitment to user privacy will be put to the test as he prepares to face the legal system. Elon Musk’s support and the ongoing drama on social media platforms like X are keeping the tech community on edge.
