08-04-b-Sci-Tech Wires
It’s not just Brazil v. Elon Musk’s X: Governments are seeking harsh remedies to social media abuses – Fortune
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Excerpt:
There have always been consequences in media for getting things wrong, from lawsuits and reputational damage to jail time and fines that can gut a business. You can be right and still get targeted. Just ask the Committee to Protect Journalists. Now, social media platforms are dealing with those issues. What’s different and disturbing is how many governments are aiming to essentially shut them down.
Explained: Why did Brazil ban Elon Musk’s X? – The Times of India
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Excerpt:
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has supported Justice de Moraes’ decision, asserting that wealthy individuals like Musk are not above the law. Meanwhile, Musk has criticized President Lula, referring to him as de Moraes’ “lapdog.” The decision to suspend X was upheld by one of Brazil’s Supreme Court panels, though some legal experts argue that a broader consensus among justices should have been sought for such a critical action.
The Musk vs. de Moraes case exemplifies the complexities tech companies face when navigating different legal frameworks globally, highlighting growing tensions between multinational digital platforms and sovereign laws. With no immediate resolution in sight, the conflict continues to draw international attention, underscoring the intricate relationship between technology, law, and politics in today’s digital landscape.
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Excerpt from timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Telegram Founder Pavel Durov: From Elon Musk to Tucker Carlson: International support pours in for arrested Telegram founder Pavel Durov
French-Russian tech tycoon Pavel Durov was taken into custody at a Paris airport on Sunday for suspected involvement in activities associated with his messaging app Telegram. The alleged offences include fraud, drug trafficking, cyberbullying, organised crime and the promotion of terrorism.
As per the Moscow Times, Durov was detained at Le Bourget Airport and is scheduled to appear in court on Sunday itself.
He could face charges that carry a maximum prison term of 20 years. The arrest has sparked significant discussion and responses within the technology sector and among well-known individuals.
Warrant and content moderation concerns
France has authorised the arrest of Durov as a part of an initial inquiry into the purported offences. The detention of the founder of Telegram has sparked further debates regarding the platform’s policies on regulating content.
Renowned for its end-to-end encryption, Telegram permits groups of up to 200,000 members, consequently raising allegations that it enables the proliferation of inaccurate information and detrimental content.
Reactions from the tech industry
The reaction from the tech industry to Durov’s arrest has been swift and vocal.
Elon Musk, the founder of SpaceX, was one of the first prominent tech figures to support the “#FreePavel” trend. He expressed concern about the arrest, seeing it as an attack on free speech and suggested wider implications for censorship. Musk highlighted the dangerous direction these actions represent and expressed increased worry about censorship.
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Excerpt from The Cryptonomist
Telegram compliant with EU laws despite the arrest of founder Pavel Durov
Telegram declares itself compliant with all EU laws and defends its CEO Pavel Durov
The great messaging app Telegram, defends its compliance with EU laws, after its CEO, Pavel Durov, was arrested in France.
“Telegram respects the laws of the European Union, including the Digital Services Act, and its moderation meets industry standards and is constantly improving. Telegram’s CEO, Pavel Durov, has nothing to hide and often travels to Europe.”
In practice, Telegram has stated that it is fully compliant with the laws of the European Union and that its content moderation practices fall within the “industry standards”.
This statement comes after its CEO was arrested at a French airport by local authorities. The reason for this arrest appears to be a criminal complaint focused on the platform’s moderation practices, which French law enforcement considers insufficient.
In fact, despite there not being a formal accusation published yet, it seems that the company and its CEO are guilty of having published organized criminal acts.
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Excerpt from Shore News Network
Rumble CEO Flees Europe as Free Speech Under Attack in U.S. and Globally
The recent events involving the arrest of Pavel Durov, CEO of Telegram, and the subsequent flight of Chris Pavlovski, CEO of Rumble, from Europe, underscore a troubling trend in the global battle over free speech, particularly in the digital age. These incidents are emblematic of the growing tension between governments and social media platforms that refuse to bow to demands for content censorship. This issue has profound implications for the future of free speech, both online and offline, and raises critical questions about the balance between regulation and freedom in democratic societies.