This chapter explores the turbulent history of Telegram's founder, focusing on his conflicts with global governments and his recent dramatic arrest in France. It examines the tensions between freedom of speech and government regulation in social media, revealing how the controversy surrounding his leadership has intensified user engagement and public support for his anti-authoritarian principles.
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
theguardian.com/sciencepod