Erick-Woods Erickson
Pavel Durov is a name you will hear repeatedly in the coming days and weeks. Deemed the Mark Zuckerberg of Russia, Durov is worth north of $15 billion after founding the social media platform Telegram over a decade ago.
When the Russian authorities demanded backdoor access to the platform shortly after its creation, Druov fled his homeland and applied for citizenship in France, the UAE, and the Caribbean nation St. Kitts and Nevis. Durov was just arrested in France and charged with 12 counts relating to his refusal to cooperate with authorities over access to his platform.
The arrest of Durov is significant because it raises the question of accountability for owners and creators of platforms. In our commitment to free speech, the United States has long held that platform owners can’t be prosecuted for what others post. However, it should be concerning to all of us that this is increasingly becoming the minority position around the world.