CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, Elon Musk, has publicly called on French President Emmanuel Macron to explain the circumstances surrounding the arrest of Pavel Durov, founder of the popular messaging app Telegram.
Durov was taken into custody by French authorities in Paris as part of an ongoing investigation into illicit activities on the platform, including money laundering, drug trafficking, and child abuse.
Musk, who has been a vocal advocate for free speech and online privacy, took to social media to express his concerns about Durov’s arrest and its potential implications for the digital landscape.
“It would be useful for the world community to know more details about why he was arrested,” Musk said, commenting on Macron’s broadcast about Durov’s detention.
Previously, Musk supported Telegram users calling on Macron to release Durov with the hashtag #FreePavel. Currently, many Telegram channels from all over the world are supporting Durov.
The French President had stated that the decision to detain Durov was not taken for political reasons.
The telegram CEO was detained getting off a private jet at Le Bourget Airport in France on the evening of August 24. The entrepreneur arrived in the country from Azerbaijan.