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French authorities are facing criticism from free speech advocates and the crypto community following the arrest of Telegram founder Pavel Durov. On August 24, 2024, Durov was detained in France, an action that has sparked significant controversy and backlash.
In the wake of Durov's arrest, several French government websites experienced a denial of service (DDOS) attack, reportedly linked to a Russian hacker group. The websites affected include the Administrative Court of Paris, the French Health Department’s ansm.sante.fr, and the Court of Cassation’s page. Attempts to access these sites during the incident resulted in warnings about insecure connections.
The initial reports from Entropia Intel suggest that the DDoS attack might be a reaction to Durov’s arrest. In response to the arrest, French President Emmanuel Macron addressed the situation on August 26, asserting that the arrest was not politically motivated. Macron emphasized France’s commitment to freedom of speech and expressed confidence that the case would be handled by the judiciary rather than political entities.
Macron’s statement, however, has drawn criticism from various quarters. Notably, former VanEck director for digital asset strategy Gabor Gurbacs questioned the adherence to the "rule of law" and "freedom of expression," highlighting concerns about the arrest’s implications. The crypto community, including prominent figures such as Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin and entrepreneur Elon Musk, has called for Durov’s release. These calls reflect widespread concern about the impact on free speech and the use of decentralized technology.
As of the latest updates, French prosecutors have stated that Durov can be detained for questioning until August 28. The investigation pertains to crimes allegedly committed by an unnamed individual using the Telegram platform. At this point, Durov has not been formally charged with any crime, and no legal wrongdoing on his part has been established.
The situation continues to evolve, with significant attention from both the technology sector and free speech advocates monitoring the developments closely.
