French President Emmanuel Macron has denied any involvement in inviting Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov to France.
During a press conference on August 29, held while Macron was on a diplomatic visit to Serbia, he clarified that he was unaware of Durov's visit to France and pointed out that he is not typically informed about every individual entering the country, regardless of their nationality.
Macron also emphasized that the French judicial system would handle Durov's case without any political interference.
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Durov, who is currently facing multiple criminal charges from French prosecutors, was released on bail after posting a €5 million bond. He must remain in France and report to law enforcement weekly.
His arrest has sparked international outrage, with some accusing Macron of orchestrating the detainment for political reasons. Macron rejected these claims through a post on X.
Prominent figures in the tech industry responded to the post, mainly questioning France's commitment to freedom of expression. Gabor Gurbacs, former director of digital asset strategy at VanEck, remarked:
You arrest the a guy then see if he did something wrong? Is this the "rule of law" and "freedom of expression" you are taking about?
Some commentators also argued that tech founders should not be held personally responsible for the crimes they did not directly commit, just like Macron himself is not held accountable for all crimes in France.
This controversy has raised serious questions about the future of tech innovation and freedom of expression in France and possibly across Europe, as the fallout from Durov’s arrest continues to escalate.
In other news, Elon Musk's X has allegedly violated the Digital Services Act, as was found during an investigation by the European Commission. If the violations are confirmed, the company may face fines of over $200 million.
