Is Telegram an Extremist Hub or a Bastion of Free Speech?

The CEO of the messaging app Telegram, Pavel Durov, was arrested in Paris on Saturday.

The Charge: Telegram takes a light approach to moderation, leading to the accusation that Durov has allowed illegal activity like money laundering, terrorism, and drug trade to take place on Telegram. Telegram was one of the social media platforms used to coordinate the recent riots in the UK.

Cause For Concern: It can be difficult to track those who send inflammatory content in private chat rooms or via direct messages. "Law enforcement agencies have more leverage to persuade Facebook and WhatsApp owner Meta Platforms Inc. to help them identify users engaged in illegal activities as it’s a publicly listed company headquartered in the US. They’ve proven to be largely powerless when it comes to Telegram, which is based in Dubai," said Eleanor Thornber and Jeff Stone in Bloomberg (Lean Left).

What About Free Speech?: Some argue that Telegram is one of the last platforms on which one can have a conversation online without governments combing through personal correspondences. "Mr. Musk and Mr. Durov have put their freedom at risk to ensure free speech is an option for the rest of us. Without speech, the rest of our freedoms — including freedom of assembly and freedom of religion — will be lost," the Washington Times Editorial Board (Lean Right) argued.