Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has publicly criticized the recent arrest of Pavel Durov, founder and CEO of Telegram, who was detained on Saturday at Bourget airport near Paris. Durov, arriving from Azerbaijan on his private jet, was apprehended by local authorities amid an investigation into Telegram’s alleged failure to moderate criminal activity on the platform.
Musk, a vocal advocate for free speech, took to social media to express his disapproval of Durov’s arrest. He emphasized the importance of free speech protections, particularly under the First Amendment in the United States, and criticized the European approach to such matters.
In a sharp comment, Musk remarked, “It’s 2030 in Europe, and people are getting executed for liking memes,” highlighting his concern about the broader implications for freedom of expression. Reports indicate that Durov could face up to 20 years in prison.
Following the arrest, the value of the TON blockchain’s associated token dropped by as much as 17%. The TON team reassured its community that the network remains fully operational despite the ongoing developments.
