TON Society's Letter to France Condemns Telegram CEO's Arrest

The Open Network (TON) Society, an independent group representing the TON community, has issued an open letter to French authorities, demanding the immediate release of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov, who was arrested at Le Bourget Airport on 24 August.

In the letter, the TON Society denounces Durov's imprisonment as not merely a legal matter but as a "direct assault on a basic human right" and a serious violation of free speech principles.

The authors of the letter urge international organisations such as the United Nations, the Council of Europe, and the European Union to intervene on Durov's behalf and pressure France to uphold human rights.

The letter further references a European Court of Human Rights ruling, emphasizing that encryption tools, like those employed by Telegram, are crucial for safeguarding freedom of expression.

The TON Society states in its open letter: https://telegra.ph/Open-Letter-to-France-08-27

“It must be noted that the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has unanimously upheld the decision in the CASE OF PODCHASOV v. RUSSIA that ‘measures for encryption contribute to ensuring the enjoyment of other fundamental rights, such as freedom of expression.”

It also calls on social media and technology companies to resist state censorship and other forms of information suppression against their users.

The TON Society highlights that Telegram's content moderation policies align with the EU's regulatory framework, including the Digital Services Act, underscoring the platform's compliance with international standards.

This issue, they assert, transcends legal boundaries, representing a broader fight for the future of online freedom.

The outcome of this situation will undoubtedly have far-reaching implications beyond France.

TON Society Launches Open Letter Mini App to Gather Signatures

The TON Society has launched an Open Letter Mini App, urging advocates of freedom of speech and privacy to sign a petition directed at French authorities.

The initiative, titled "Free Pavel @Durov and Defend Free Speech," seeks to amass one million signatures.

Since its inception, the app has garnered nearly 600,000 signatures, showcasing robust support for the cause.

Within six hours, the petition surpassed one million signatures, and as of now, the total stands at close to 1.5 million.

The campaign continues to collect signatures, aiming to reach its next goal of five million signatures.

Experts Worry About Impact of Durov's Arrest on Crypto

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov faces serious accusations, with charges alleging that Telegram has been used to facilitate illegal activities, including unlawful transactions and the distribution of illicit content.

The charges also claim that Durov has refused to cooperate with law enforcement by withholding crucial data needed for legal investigations.

These allegations have sparked a strong backlash from the crypto and tech communities, who view the situation as a dangerous precedent for privacy and regulatory overreach.

Wayne Vaughan, CEO of Tierion, sees the charges as a direct challenge to the fundamental principles of the crypto world.

The arrest has ignited a larger conversation about the future of technology and the role of encryption.

Andy Yen, CEO of Proton, warned that such legal actions could stifle innovation, particularly in France, and referred to the situation as "economic suicide" for the country's tech sector.

Lyudmyla Kozlovska, President of the Open Dialogue Foundation, highlighted the broader implications, cautioning that without strong protections, privacy and encryption could soon be criminalised under regulatory measures similar to those targeting Durov.

Kashif Raza, founder of Bitinning, underscored the significance of the case by likening Durov’s arrest to a scenario involving Satoshi Nakamoto, illustrating the potential widespread impact on the global crypto and tech industries.