Source: Cointelegraph Original: "{title}"
Telegram founder Pavel Durov has been granted temporary leave from France, but the preliminary charges against him pose significant issues for the crypto community.
On March 13, a French court allowed the founder and CEO of the encrypted messaging app Telegram to leave France for Dubai, where he previously resided. Durov has been in France since his arrest at Paris's Bourget Airport in August 2024.
Durov is part of an investigation into allegations of negligence and conspiracy related to crimes such as drug trafficking, money laundering, child sexual exploitation, and terrorism. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison.
More broadly, Durov's case raises questions among developers about their responsibilities for the crypto platforms and tools they create—a well-known issue in the cryptocurrency industry.
The preliminary charges against Durov claim that he bears partial responsibility for the illegal activities resulting from the platform's encryption and support for cryptocurrencies.
Observers in the cryptocurrency industry find this argument familiar, as they have been following the case of Tornado Cash developer Alexey Pertsev. Like Durov, prosecutors accuse Pertsev of being responsible for illegal activities (i.e., money laundering) occurring on the platform.
Pertsev was arrested in the Netherlands in 2022 and is currently out on bail, awaiting trial.
Related reports state that the defense claims Pertsev's bail is a "key step" toward obtaining a fair trial.
In both cases, members of the cryptocurrency community have recognized the potential impact on freedom of speech and privacy rights and have begun to support these executives.
Jose Fabrega, marketing director of the Ethereum-based blockchain Metis, referred to Durov's arrest as a "replay of the Tornado Cash case."
Source: Jose Fabrega
Natalia Latka, director of public policy and regulatory affairs at blockchain analytics firm Merkle Science, previously told Cointelegraph, "Historically, software developers have been viewed as neutral creators of tools and platforms, responsible for the technical functionality of their technology but not for how those tools are used."
However, she noted that this situation is changing with the rise of decentralized tools that "challenge traditional regulatory frameworks."
Cryptocurrency platform Onesafe wrote in a blog post on March 17 that this puts decentralized platforms in a "dilemma." "This means understanding the legal framework governing their operations and engaging with regulators."
It also described Durov's case as a "critical moment" for the cryptocurrency industry and called for cryptocurrency companies to advocate for more "balanced regulation" in support of advocacy groups.
Durov himself wrote on March 17 that Telegram "not only fulfills its legal obligations but exceeds them."
Observers and critics have expressed concern over Durov's arrest, discussing what it means for freedom of speech and whether the arrest has political motives.
Chris Pavlovski, CEO of the alternative tech video-sharing platform Rumble, stated that this is the last straw for him and his company, which has previously clashed with French officials over censorship issues.
Source: Chris Pavlovski
Gregory Alburov, an investigator with the late Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation, said, "Besides being incredibly unjust (Durov is clearly not involved in terrorism or arms trafficking), [this case] is also a huge blow to freedom of speech."
Durov has previously clashed with regulators, particularly in 2018 when he refused to comply with orders from Russia's telecommunications regulator Roskomnadzor, leading many to believe the charges are politically motivated.
While French President Emmanuel Macron has publicly stated that the case is not an attack on Durov, human rights lawyer and head of the human rights organization "Department One," Dmitry Zair-Bek, disagrees.
Related content: Freedom of Speech and Online Privacy: The Rise of Pavel Durov
He said, "Durov has become a target mainly because he strives to protect user privacy and, of course, because he refuses to cooperate with intelligence agencies."
Regardless of the motives, the outcome of this case will have significant implications for future platforms. A conviction could intimidate platforms and executives, leading to stricter censorship, while an acquittal could embolden other platforms to more boldly abandon their obligations to regulators and public safety.
Reports indicate that Durov's holiday in Dubai will be extended until April 7. The French prosecutor's office has not made any public statements regarding the progress of the case.
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