Silenced: Telegram Creator Prevented from Speaking at Oslo Freedom Forum
French Court Prevents Telegram Founder Pavel Durov from Attending Oslo Freedom Forum
A French court has denied an application by Telegram founder Pavel Durov to travel to Norway for the Oslo Freedom Forum, scheduled for May 27. The decision prevents Durov from delivering a planned speech on digital surveillance, free expression, and online rights at the prestigious human rights conference.
The Human Rights Foundation, organizers of the annual activist gathering, have expressed disappointment over the court's decision to restrict Durov's travel despite his invitation to address an international audience of freedom advocates.
Pavel Durov remains under French legal proceedings since his arrest in August 2024. The charges relate to activities allegedly conducted through the Telegram platform, although no direct wrongdoing has been attributed to him. The proceedings center around questions of platform liability for user-generated content and activities.
French authorities previously granted Durov permission to leave the country for international engagements. However, this latest decision marks a reversal, with the court denying Durov's travel request.
The travel ban impedes discussions between Durov and human rights defenders from various authoritarian states regarding improvements to Telegram's capabilities for resistance movements.
Since 2014, Durov, a prominent voice against digital surveillance and governmental interference in private communications, has maintained residence outside of Russia. This decision comes after he declined to provide the Federal Security Service with user information regarding Ukrainian protesters.
Despite the travel ban, Durov will participate in the Oslo Freedom Forum via a livestream, ensuring his voice is heard on issues of freedom of speech and democracy.
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Durov has been indicted on six charges related to illicit activities on Telegram, including complicity in distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and refusal of assistance to law enforcement. After his arrest, Durov was released on a 5 million euro bail but was ordered to stay in France and report to the police twice a week. Durov's arrest at a French airport has effectively confined him to France, limiting his ability to engage in international events and activities, seen by many as a restriction on his freedom and potential impact on his ability to express his views on global platforms.
- Pavel Durov's participation in the Oslo Freedom Forum will now happen virtually, as the French court's recent travel ban prevents him from attending in person.
- During his livestreamed appearance at the Oslo Freedom Forum, Durov is expected to discuss crypto-related technology such as Tron, Binance DEX, and ICOs, given his interest in the decentralized economy and privacy concerns.
- Despite the challenges posed by the ongoing legal proceedings, Durov's invited speech at the Oslo Freedom Forum focuses on the use of tokens (digital assets) for promoting freedom of speech and democracy, an issue close to his heart.
