The case against Pavel Durov and why it's important for crypto
18 Março 2025 - 6:31AM
Cointelegraph


Telegram founder Pavel Durov has been allowed to leave France
temporarily, but the preliminary charges against him raise
significant questions for the crypto community.
On March 13, a French court gave the founder and CEO of the
encrypted messaging app Telegram permission to
leave for Dubai, where he had previously resided. Durov had
been in France since August 2024, when he was
arrested at the
Le Bourget airport in Paris.
Durov was part of an investigation containing
allegations
of negligence and complicity in crimes like narcotics trafficking,
money laundering, child sexual exploitation and terrorism. He could
face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
More broadly, Durov’s case raises questions about developer
responsibility for the cryptographic platforms and tools they
create — a well-known issue in the cryptocurrency industry.
Is Durov responsible for what happens on Telegram?
The preliminary charges against Durov claimed he was
responsible, at least in part, for the illicit activities allegedly
enabled by the platform’s encryption and support for
cryptocurrencies.
The argument will sound familiar to crypto industry observers,
who have been following the case of
Alexey Pertsev, the developer of cryptocurrency mixer service
Tornado Cash. As with Durov, prosecutors allege that Pertsev is
responsible for the illicit activities that took place on the
platform, namely money laundering.
Pertsev was arrested in the Netherlands in 2022 and
is currently out
on bail while he waits for his trial to begin.
Related: Tornado Cash dev Alexey Pertsev’s bail a
‘crucial step’ in getting fair trial, defense
says
In both cases, members of the crypto community have recognized
the possible implications to free speech and privacy, and come to
support the executives.
Jose Fabrega, head of marketing at Ethereum-based blockchain
Metis, called Durov’s arrest the “Tornado Cash case all over
again.”
Source: Jose
Fabrega
Natalia Latka, director of public policy and regulatory affairs
at blockchain analysis firm Merkle Science, has previously
told
Cointelegraph that “Historically, software developers were seen as
neutral creators of tools and platforms, responsible for their
technical functionality but not for how those tools were used.”
However, she said this has been changing with the proliferation
of decentralized tools that “challenge traditional regulatory
frameworks.”
This puts decentralized platforms in a “tight spot,” crypto
platform Onesafe wrote in a
blog post on March 17. “This means knowing the legal frameworks
governing their operations and engaging with regulatory
bodies.”
It also called the Durov case a “pivotal moment” for the
cryptocurrency industry and called on crypto firms to advocate for
more “balanced regulations” and support advocacy groups.
Durov himself wrote on
March 17 that Telegram has “not only met but exceeded its legal
obligations.”
Implications for free speech
Observers and critics alike have raised concerns about Durov’s
arrest — discussing what it means for free speech and whether the
arrest could have been politically motivated.
Chris Pavlovski, the CEO of “alt-tech” video-sharing platform
Rumble, said that it was the final straw for him and his company,
which had previously clashed with
French officials over censorship issues.
Source: Chris
Pavlolvski
Gregory Alburov, an investigator for the Anti-Corruption
Foundation of late Russian opposition politician Alexey Navalny,
said the case
“in addition to being unjust as hell (Durov obviously isn’t engaged
in terrorism or weapons trafficking), is also a huge blow to
freedom of speech.”
Durov’s previous clashes with regulators, particularly in 2018,
when he refused to comply with an order from Russian telecoms
regulator Roskomnadzor, have led many to believe that the charges
were politically motivated.
While French President Mannuel Macron publicly
stated that
the case is not an attack on Durov, Dmitry Zair-Bek — a human
rights lawyer and head of the human rights organization Department
One — disagrees.
Related: Free
speech and online privacy: Pavel Durov's rise to the
top
“Durov is essentially being targeted for his efforts to protect
users’ privacy and, of course, for his refusal to cooperate with
intelligence agencies,” he said.
Regardless of the motivations, the outcome of the case will have
clear implications for future platforms. A conviction could
intimidate platforms and executives into more intense moderation to
the point of censorship, while a victory could embolden others to
abandon obligations to regulators and public safety.
Durov’s leave in Dubai reportedly extends to April 7. The French
prosecutor’s office has not made any public statements regarding
the status of the case.
Magazine:
Crypto fans are obsessed with longevity and biohacking:
Here’s why
...
Continue reading The case against Pavel Durov and
why it's important for crypto
The post
The case against Pavel Durov and why it's important
for crypto appeared first on
CoinTelegraph.
Ethereum (COIN:ETHUSD)
Gráfico Histórico do Ativo
De Fev 2025 até Mar 2025
Ethereum (COIN:ETHUSD)
Gráfico Histórico do Ativo
De Mar 2024 até Mar 2025