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French President Emmanuel Macron has denied involvement in the August 24 arrest of the CEO of Telegram in his country, with officials from the European Commission having also privately issued similar statements on August 26. (Photo by AOP.Press/Corbis via Getty Images)
French President Emmanuel Macron has denied involvement in the arrest of the CEO of Telegram in his country, with officials from the European Commission having also privately issued similar statements.
Both parties’ attempts to distance themselves from the incident on August 24 came as many decried the arrest of Russian businessman Pavel Durov as an attack on tech innovation — the kind of which many feel has become increasingly common within Europe.
In a statement published on August 26, Macron denied such claims, insisting any suggestions that Durov’s arrest was politically motivated were false.
“The arrest of the president of Telegram on French soil took place as part of an ongoing judicial investigation,” he said.
“It is in no way a political decision. It is up to the judges to rule on the matter.”
Macron also claimed that France was “committed to freedom of expression”, as well as “to innovation, and to the spirit of entrepreneurship”.
He did add that “freedoms are upheld within a legal framework, both on social media and in real life”, asaying it was up to the “judiciary, in full independence, to enforce the law” in this regard.
Speaking to Euronews, one unnamed European Commission spokesman insisted that the executive had no involvement in the arrest and that it was unrelated to the bloc’s censorious Digital Services Act.
“Criminal prosecution is not among the potential sanctions for a breach of the DSA,” the spokesman said.
“The DSA does not define what is illegal nor does it establish any criminal offence and can therefore not be invoked for arrests. Only national [or international] laws that define a criminal offence can be invoked.”
The official added, though, that Brussels was “closely monitoring the developments related to Telegram and stand ready to cooperate with the French authorities should it be relevant”.
Brussels Signal approached the EC for comment but at the time of writing had yet to receive a response.
Durov’s arrest has sent shockwaves through the tech world, with many fearing that France’s decision to target the businessman is an indication of a coming clampdown on tech CEOs.
French authorities so far have remained opaque regarding the affair, releasing a statement late on August 26 saying the arrest was made in relation to an investigation into an unnamed individual regarding a swathe of charges ranging from the dissemination of child sex abuse material and narcotics to money laundering.
France has made no indication regarding how they believe Durov could be involved in these charges.
Those familiar with the tech world now fear that this is an attempt to hold Durov accountable for how others use his platform, a move that could have wide-ranging consequences for senior tech workers operating in France.
In an explainer for Unheard, economist Philip Pilkington explained that the move could hamper innovation in France, especially in the realm of telecommunications.
“The arrest of Pavel Durov in relation to apparently very serious crimes has sent a chill through the technology and entrepreneurial community,” Pilkinton told Brussels Signal.
“This goes far beyond issues of ‘free speech’ as the arrest suggests that very serious crimes may be imputed to people who simply run communications platforms.”
Pilkington added that the arrest further undermines Macron’s previously stated goal of turning France into a “start-up nation” capable of competing with China and the United States.
“The Macron administration has now ensured that France will likely never become a startup nation — rather it will become a country technology entrepreneurs avoid out of fear.”
The incident has also had geopolitical consequences. The United Arab Emirates — Durov is a citizen — has insisted to France that the billionaire be provided with all consular assistance he may require.
Senior Russian officials have meanwhile claimed that Durov’s arrest is politically motivated despite the tech CEO’s historically strained relationship with the Kremlin.