The Deeper Significance of the Telegram Founder’s Arrest

Recently, Telegram founder Pavel Durov was arrested near Paris, sparking widespread attention. The significance behind this event may be more profound than it appears on the surface.

Durov was born in Russia, and the Telegram he founded currently has nearly 1 billion active users. Although the platform has been abused by some criminals, simply viewing Durov as a "villain" is a misunderstanding of the facts.

In fact, Durov can be seen as a hero defending freedom. His first company VK was once the largest social network in Russia, but was seized for refusing to cooperate with the Russian government. This experience prompted Durov to create Telegram, which he deliberately designed to avoid collaborating with dictatorial regimes.

Telegram has played an important role in democratic protests multiple times over the past decade. The protests in Belarus in 2020 were referred to as the "Telegram Revolution." The platform has provided a crucial channel for citizens to communicate freely across borders.

It is worth noting that Durov obtained French citizenship in 2021, which is a rare achievement in France. This may be related to the role that Telegram played in organizing protests against authoritarian regimes.

However, recent Western public opinion towards Durov has turned negative. The French government has made 12 charges against him, several of which involve serious crimes. At the same time, Russia has also made an extradition request. This series of actions may have multiple purposes, including tarnishing Durov's reputation and attempting to gain influence over Telegram.

These allegations against Durov can also be applied to any social media platform. This incident highlights the severe challenges facing Western liberal values, the significance of which may exceed the awareness of most people.

At this critical moment, we need to be vigilant against the risk of erosion of freedom of speech. As George Washington said: "If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter." The struggle to defend the values of freedom is a long and arduous one.