A few days ago co-founder and CEO of Telegram Pavel Durov was arrested in France after he landed at Le Bourget Airport. Since then, Telegram has climbed to the second spot among social apps on the App Store in the U.S.
The arrest has widely been seen as a very controversial move. Authorities allege that Durov has neglected moderation of Telegram and any cooperation in general. That is true, but it’s likely because Durov is a very strong proponent of free speech.
Originating from Russia, Durov left his home country when he refused to hand over user data to the authorities. This commitment to freedom of expression has led to Telegram developing a somewhat sour impression amongst many online circles, which consider the platform to be full of radicals.
How uncouth. | Image credit — PhoneArena
The current spike in downloads for Telegram can be attributed to multiple factors, most of which revolve around the recent media attention. Either the new downloads are from people making a statement for free speech, or from users who didn’t know much about Telegram and are now curious.
Fascinatingly, Russia has come out in support of Durov, with officials claiming that the arrest was politically motivated. The country has also pledged assistance to Durov during his case.
I’ve used Telegram at multiple points throughout my life for months on end. Frankly, I find it to be a breath of fresh air. It’s very much like Discord: the nicest and the most vile communities exist on the platform and it’s up to you which ones you join.
Like many times in the past, Telegram being in the news has only helped the platform. Those who disagree with it can only ignore it, while those in favor can download and use it to show their support. Which in turn will strengthen the platform even more.
I don’t think Telegram’s going anywhere anytime soon.
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Abdullah is an ardent believer in the future of VR, and can't wait to see what more it brings to the table as technology improves. He enjoys covering new software releases in the XR industry, as well as major news about hardware and companies focused on VR.
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