Following the arrest of Telegram founder at Le Bourget airport, Elon Musk has promptly criticised European authorities. The arrest has started a debate on tech platform responsibilities and free speech.

Elon Musk has firmly expressed his disapproval of European authorities after the arrest of billionaire Telegram founder Pavel Durov, labelling it as an attack on free speech. In multiple post Musk called for justice for Durov. A post by American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy asserted that “It’s Telegram today. It’ll be X tomorrow “. To which Elon Musk showed agreement opining ‘he’s right’.  In a separate tweet, Elon Musk stated, “POV: It’s 2030 in Europe and you’re being executed for liking a meme,” hinting at what he identifies as increasing censorship in the region.

Durov was detained at Le Bourget airport near Paris soon after arriving from Azerbaijan on Saturday. Pavel Durov (a 39-year-old Russian-born business magnate with dual UAE and French citizenship) was held as part of a preliminary police investigation into Telegram’s moderation practices. French authorities are reportedly probing the platform for allegedly facilitating various crimes due to insufficient content moderation and inadequate cooperation with law enforcement.

According to a Reuters report, Durov was arrested based on a pending arrest warrant in France. A specialized unit within the cybersecurity gendarmerie and France’s national anti-fraud police are conducting the investigation, which is being superintended by a judge with expertise in organised crime.

Following Pavel’s arrest, the Russian government issued a stern warning to France, emphasizing that Pavel should get access to his legal rights. Russia’s foreign ministry also informed that it had sent a note to Paris requesting access to Pavel, notwithstanding his French citizenship. In the meantime, Russian lawmaker Maria Butina branded Pavel a ‘political prisoner,’ asserting his arrest was part of a Western ‘witch-hunt.’ In response, Telegram issued a statement asserting that the platform conforms to European Union laws, including the Digital Services Act.

The company defended Pavel, stating that he has absolutely nothing to hide and regularly travels across Europe. Telegram also rejected claims that either the platform or its owner should be held liable for any misuse of the service, reiterating its commitment to free speech and user privacy.

Pavel Durov founded Telegram in the year 2013 after exiting Russia because of government pressure to shut down opposition groups on VK (a social media platform he had created and later sold). Telegram, with headquarters in Dubai now, has developed into one of the most influential messaging apps, with roughly 1 billion users, especially in Ukraine, Russia, and other former Soviet states.