This chapter examines the essential role of Telegram in facilitating communication during the conflicts in Russia and Ukraine, focusing on its founder Pavel Durov's journey and commitment to free speech. It also discusses the challenges Telegram faces in balancing user privacy with legal obligations and the scrutiny from authorities due to its handling of extremist content.
The arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov by French authorities is part of a broader shift away from the free speech absolutism long championed by Big Tech. The Washington Post’s Will Oremus explains.
This episode was produced by Amanda Lewellyn, edited by Matt Collette, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Patrick Boyd and Andrea Kristinsdottir, and hosted by David Pierce.
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