This chapter explores the role of platforms like Telegram in empowering activists in authoritarian societies while addressing the challenges of user freedom versus legal responsibilities. It also contrasts Telegram's features and controversies with Signal's commitment to responsible operation and encryption-based unfiltered speech.
The arrest of Telegram’s founder and CEO in Paris last month has thrown the spotlight on the messaging app and its approach to content moderation. Madeleine Finlay hears from Russian affairs reporter Pjotr Sauer and technology journalist Alex Hern about how the case could influence how social media companies approach problematic content on their platforms. Help support our independent journalism at
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