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Arrest of Telegram founder Pavel Durov signals an increasing threat to digital freedom

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Pavel Durov of Telegram speaks during the Digital Life Design conference (DLD) at HVB Forum on January 24, 2012, in Munich, Germany

From LifeSiteNews

By Christina Maas

The message being sent to every tech visionary, journalist, or outspoken citizen is if you donā€™t play by the new rules, the state will come for you. Theyā€™ve got the global mandate to ensure that dissenting voices are silenced, one way or another.

Picture this: a tech billionaire, whoā€™s made his fortune building a platform that prioritizes privacy and free speech, is arrested at a Paris airport. Sounds like the plot of a dystopian thriller, right? Except itā€™s real life. Pavel Durov, the brain behindĀ Telegram, found himself in handcuffs at Le Bourget airport over the weekend, marking another dark chapter in the ongoing war against free speech.Ā 

Whatā€™s Durovā€™s crime, you ask? Well, it depends on which bureaucrat you ask. According to the official indictment, heā€™s guilty of everything short of kicking puppies ā€“ fraud, drug trafficking, organized crime, encouraging terrorism, and, just for good measure, providing encryption. The French authorities must have felt ambitious that day, throwing in the entire criminal code just to be sure. Letā€™s not forget that this whole circus started because Durov reportedly had the audacity to support free speech. Apparently, in 2024, thatā€™s enough to get you a one-way ticket to a Parisian jail cell.Ā 

READ:Ā Telegram founder Pavel Durov arrested in FranceĀ 

Durovā€™s detention has been extended by 96 hours. Because, you know, it takes a while to figure out which of these ludicrous charges will stick when the real crime was defending free speech.Ā 

French President Emmanuel Macron assures everyone that Durovā€™s arrest is nothing more than a purely ā€œjudicial,ā€ non-political act. You know, the kind of legal housekeeping every free society must endure to keep its otherwise robust freedoms from accidentally going rogue. Because, clearly, when you find the head of a privacy-focused tech giant behind bars, itā€™s all about upholding legal standards, right?Ā 

But before we crown France this monthā€™s champion of authoritarianism, letā€™s take a quick tour around the globe. In the European Unionā€™s ever-benevolent grasp,Ā a high-ranking official isĀ threatening to drag U.S. social media platformsĀ  through the censorship ringer. Whatā€™s the endgame? To ensure that the EUā€™s favorite brand of speech policing crosses the Atlantic. Forget about free expression ā€“ itā€™s all about toeing the line, or else.Ā 

Not to be outdone, Brazilā€™s Supreme Court is adding its own flair to the global crackdown with secretiveĀ censorship orders slapped on online platforms. The idea here is simple: if you canā€™t kill the message, just gag the messenger. No court hearings, no appeals ā€“ just pure, unfiltered control.Ā 

So, here we are, watching as the pillars of free speech are bulldozed in broad daylight, with tech moguls like Durov tossed behind bars for daring to build platforms that donā€™t kowtow to government censorship. The arrest of a billionaire for refusing to censor, a prime minister having citizens arrested for social media posts, an EU official threatening American companies with censorship demands, and a Brazilian judge unleashing secretive orders ā€“ this isnā€™t just a bad month for free speech; itā€™s a full-on assault.Ā 

Whatā€™s the message being sent to every tech visionary, journalist, or outspoken citizen? Simple: if you donā€™t play by the new rules, the state will come for you. Theyā€™ve got the handcuffs, the secret orders, and, apparently, the global mandate to ensure that dissenting voices are silenced, one way or another.Ā 

This isnā€™t just about Durov or Telegram. This is about the battle lines being drawn between governments that want absolute control and a shrinking pool of platforms still willing to fight for freedom. These are dangerous times for free speech, and if we donā€™t pay attention, we might just wake up to find it gone for good.Ā 

Durov, who departed Russia in 2014 following disagreements with the Kremlin over internet freedoms, particularly related to his refusal to close opposition groups on the VK social network which he founded at the age of 22, has since dedicated his efforts to developing Telegram.Ā 

Yet, after escaping Russia and its oppressive censorship demands, itā€™s now Western governments that have been the ones to make censorship demands.Ā 

Created with his brother Nikolai in 2013, Telegram initially functioned similarly to other messaging services but has evolved into a more complex social network, facilitating large-scale communication through channels and groups.Ā 

Despite residing in Dubai, where he enjoys citizenship alongside France and the UAE, Durov champions the app as a bastion of neutrality and free speech in an increasingly monitored digital world.Ā 

In a statement on Telegram, the company said, ā€œTelegram abides by EU laws,ā€ mentioning theĀ Digital Services ActĀ in particular and adding that Pavel Durov ā€œhas nothing to hide.ā€Ā 

The sight of Russian officials donning the mantle of ā€œfree speech defendersā€ is like watching a fox petition for chicken rights. Yet, here we are. Moscow is outraged ā€“ not at the idea of censorship (they do enough of that themselves) but because theyā€™re not the ones holding the keys to the cell. French authorities, evidently too busy trying to build a legal house of cards against Telegramā€™s founder have somehow managed to snub their Russian counterparts, who are now demanding consular access and throwing diplomatic shade from the Russian embassy in Paris.Ā 

Enter Vladislav Davankov, the deputy speaker of Russiaā€™s State Duma, whoā€™s managed to turn Durovā€™s arrest into a soapbox moment. Davankovā€™s allegation? That Durovā€™s detention is nothing more than a thinly veiled scheme by the West to hack into Telegramā€™s treasure trove of user data. According to him, this kind of violation of privacy ā€œcannot be allowed.ā€ Thatā€™s rich, coming from a regime thatā€™s never met a dissident it didnā€™t want to silence or a data packet it didnā€™t want to intercept. But his allegations against the French government may actually be pretty close.Ā 

To understand why Moscow is crying foul over Durovā€™s arrest, one must rewind the clock to 2014, when a 29-year-old Durov found himself at odds with the Kremlin. Back then, the Russian government was trying to twist his arm to shut down opposition groups on VK, the social network Durov had built from the ground up. Instead of capitulating, Durov took a stand for internet freedom, packed his bags, and left Russia for good. Fast forward a decade, and Durov is now based in Dubai, where he enjoys triple citizenship and a lifestyle reportedly far removed from his Kremlin-tangled past.Ā 

Durovā€™s masterpiece, Telegram, started as just another messaging app, but has since morphed into a digital juggernaut. With 950 million monthly users, itā€™s a lifeline for news, a platform for both truth (and yes, like any other platform or legacy news outlet, misinformation) and, much to the chagrin of various governments, a symbol of digital resistance. In the chaotic storm of Russiaā€™s invasion of Ukraine, Telegram has become a critical tool for both reporting on the conflict and narratives that governments find increasingly difficult to control.Ā 

The irony in all of this is that after fleeing Russiaā€™s oppressive demands, itā€™s now the so-called free world coming after Durov. The man who said ā€œnoā€ to the Kremlinā€™s censorship now finds himself in the crosshairs of Western governments, who are just as eager to force his hand. While the West has long championed itself as a bastion of free speech, Durovā€™s recent experience suggests otherwise.Ā 

Telegramā€™s official statement makes this clear enough: ā€œTelegram abides by EU laws,ā€ it reads, with a polite nod to the much-vaunted Digital Services Act. But the real interesting part comes with the companyā€™s assertion that Durov ā€œhas nothing to hide.ā€ This could be true ā€“ or it could be the last defiant proclamation before the doors are kicked in by the data-hungry enforcers of digital orthodoxy.Ā 

For Durov, this ordeal must feel like a twisted rerun. The same man who once resisted Moscowā€™s censorship demands now finds himself dodging the Westā€™s increasingly sharp regulatory spears. Itā€™s a grim reminder that no matter which flag flies over the government building, those in power seem to share one common goal: control.Ā 

The arrest, coupled with the Kremlinā€™s performative outrage, lays bare the truth about the state of global free speech: itā€™s under attack from all sides. Whether itā€™s through overt censorship, as seen in Russia, or the subtler, but equally insidious, pressures from the West, the aim is the same: silence dissent, control the narrative, and pry open every digital lock that doesnā€™t fit the stateā€™s key.Ā 

In the EU, the Digital Services Act has been rolled out with all the fanfare of a revolutionary triumph, marketed as a safeguard for user ā€œsafety.ā€ The truth, however, is far more sinister. What the EU is really doing is tightening its grip on the digital world, muzzling dissent under theĀ guise of combatingĀ ā€œmisinformationā€ and ā€œhate speech.ā€Ā The arrest of Durov in France is just the latest ā€“ and most brazen ā€“ example of this creeping authoritarianism dressed up in bureaucratic language.Ā 

The DSA is the EUā€™s shiny new tool for keeping social media and tech companies under its thumb. ItĀ mandates that platforms like Telegram must now answer to Big Brother, swiftly addressing so-called ā€œdisinformationā€ or risk facing severe penalties. The law is designed to force companies to do the dirty work of governments, effectively turning them into enforcers of state-approved narratives. Itā€™s not about protecting users; itā€™s about controlling them. And in the world of modern governance, where the line between regulation and repression is blurrier than ever, Durovā€™s arrest is a warning shot.Ā 

Digital speech under siege: Europeā€™s march toward censorshipĀ 

Letā€™s not mince words: the EUā€™s relentless push to ā€œenhance user safetyā€ is a euphemism for ramping up censorship. By couching these regulations in the language of public good, the EU manages to dodge the inconvenient truth that its real goal is to control the flow of information. The Digital Services Act, hailed as a ā€œsignificant overhaulā€ of the EUā€™s digital policy, is little more than a power grab disguised as a public service. And the timing of Durovā€™s arrest in France ā€“ an EU stronghold ā€“ couldnā€™t be more telling.Ā 

Durov, whoā€™s spent years fighting back against censorship, now finds himself in the middle of a battle over the future of online speech. Heā€™s built his reputation on refusing to bow to government demands, whether from the Kremlin or the West. But with his arrest in a supposedly free country, we see just how far the EU is willing to go to enforce its new digital regime.Ā 

The DSA gives the EU unprecedented control over tech companies, demanding rapid responses to whatever it deems unfit for public consumption. For Telegram, this means beefing up content moderation or facing the wrath of Brussels ā€“ a stark choice between betraying its principles or suffering the consequences.Ā 

READ:Ā Christian doctor in Germany receives 2,500-euro fine for warning about COVID jab dangers in 2021Ā 

The global chill: Durovā€™s arrest as a warning to tech CEOsĀ 

Durovā€™s arrest sends a clear and chilling message: no one is safe from the reach of the state. If a billionaire tech CEO can be nabbed at an airport and held on dubious charges for daring to defend free speech, what hope is there for anyone else? The EUā€™s new laws and the arrest of Durov mark a dangerous escalation in the global war on free expression. Other tech leaders who have championed privacy and resisted censorship must be watching with a mix of fear and trepidation, wondering if theyā€™re next on the hit list.Ā 

The implications are profound. Durovā€™s stand against censorship has made him a symbol of resistance, but itā€™s also turned him into a target. The arrest coincides with an era where tensions over digital freedom are reaching a boiling point. Governments across the globe are tightening their noose on online platforms, and the EUā€™s DSA is the latest weapon in this fight. What weā€™re witnessing is the opening salvo in a broader campaign to control the digital public square, to ensure that only the ā€œcorrectā€ information sees the light of day.Ā 

The digital guillotine: How the EUā€™s DSA is reshaping the internetĀ 

In the tradition of authoritarian overreach, the EUā€™s DSA represents more than just regulation ā€“ itā€™s the construction of a digital guillotine. The law doesnā€™t just keep tech companies in check; it keeps them in fear. With the power to fine, sanction, or even shut down platforms that donā€™t toe the line, the DSA is a blueprint for modern-day censorship, one thatā€™s already beginning to claim its first high-profile victim in Durov.Ā 

Tech bosses are increasingly finding themselves in the crosshairs of powerful states eager to bend digital platforms to their will. Just ask X owner Elon Musk, who has escaped the wrath of both Brazil and the European Union this month.Ā 

Muskā€™s crime was refusing to play ball with their censorship demands. Brazil, never one to shy away from the strong-arm approach, even threatenedĀ to lock up X employeesĀ if they didnā€™t secretly censor users. Musk and X CEO Linda Yaccarinoā€™s response was toĀ shut down operations in Brazil entirelyĀ ā€“ an audacious move, but one that highlights the growing tension between tech innovators and authoritarian government actions.Ā 

But the Durov saga takes this conflict to a new, terrifying level. While itā€™s not Brazilā€™s first rodeo ā€“ remember when they threw Facebookā€™s Diego Dzodan behind bars in 2016 for WhatsAppā€™s encryption? ā€“ Durovā€™s arrest marks a grim first: the CEO of a major messaging platform being jailed for refusing to censor. The message to tech leaders is crystal clear: stand up to government overreach, and you might just find yourself in a cell.Ā 

A screenshot of a Washington Post 2016 article titled, "Senior Facebook executive arrested in Brazil after police are denied access to data."The Washington Post ā€“ 2016

A chilling effect on innovationĀ 

Durovā€™s arrest is a dire warning to anyone who dares to innovate in the realm of communication.Ā 

The chilling effect this could have on innovation cannot be overstated. Imagine the next generation of tech entrepreneurs, who might now think twice before developing a revolutionary new app or encryption tool, fearing theyā€™ll end up like Durov.Ā 

This crackdown could particularly cripple the burgeoning crypto industry, where privacy and decentralization are core tenets. If tech CEOs are too scared to push the boundaries of free communication, the progress in these fields could grind to a halt. The digital market would be poorer for it, as the space for free expression shrinks and the room for government surveillance expands.Ā 

Elon Musk, never one to shy away from controversy, wasted no time showing solidarity with Durov. His ā€œ#FreePavelā€ post accompanied a video clip of Durov praising X for fostering innovation and freedom of expression.Ā 

Muskā€™s tweet was a clear shot across the bow, aimed at governments who think they can bully tech leaders into submission. But he didnā€™t stop there. In a further swipe at the powers that be, Musk called out the hypocrisy surrounding Durovā€™s arrest by questioning why other tech leaders ā€“ looking at you, Mark Zuckerberg ā€“ havenā€™t faced similar legal heat.Ā 

Muskā€™s point is as sharp as it is damning. Zuckerberg, the poster child for compliance, has avoided the kind of scrutiny thatā€™s now falling on Durov.Ā 

Musk pointed out the glaring double standard: while Durov is arrested for standing up to censorship, Zuckerberg seems to skate by, despite Instagram being plagued by a ā€œmassive child exploitation problem.ā€ According to Musk, the difference is simple ā€“ Zuckerberg ā€œalready caved into censorship pressureā€ and ā€œbackdoorsā€ making him a darling of the same governments now going after Durov. In Muskā€™s eyes, itā€™s not about justice or protecting users; itā€™s about punishing those who refuse to kneel.Ā 

The future of free speech: A digital Cold WarĀ 

Durovā€™s arrest, coupled with Muskā€™s pointed critique, highlights a deepening divide in the tech world. On one side, we have leaders like Durov and Musk, who are willing to fight for digital freedom, even if it means taking on the most powerful governments in the world. On the other hand, there are those whoā€™ve chosen to play it safe, complying with censorship demands to avoid the kind of fate thatā€™s now befallen Durov.Ā 

But the stakes in this digital Cold War are high. If governments succeed in making examples out of leaders like Durov, the era of free and open digital communication could be nearing its end. Innovators might retreat from building the next Telegram or X, knowing that doing so could land them in jail.Ā 

If you needed another sign that the battle for free speech is turning into a full-blown exodus, look no further than Rumble CEO Chris Pavlovski, who has just packed his bags and left Europe after a visit.Ā 

Pavlovski, a vocal critic of government censorship, could be staring down the barrel of the same threats that led to Durovā€™s detention. But unlike most tech CEOs who prefer quiet compliance to public defiance, Pavlovski is making it clear: heā€™s not going down without a fight.Ā 

Rumble, a platform built on the promise of free expression, has been under fire from France for some time. The French government has beenĀ relentless in its push to censor content on the platform, leading toĀ ongoing litigation. But Durovā€™s arrest has pushed Pavlovski to escalate his stance. On X, he blasted France for crossing a red line, calling Durovā€™s arrest a blatant violation of fundamental human rights. ā€œRumble will not stand for this behavior,ā€ he declared, vowing to use every legal weapon in his arsenal to defend free speech. His message is clear: the fight for digital freedom is global, and itā€™s far from over.Ā 

Pavlovskiā€™s critique of the French governmentā€™s actions goes beyond mere rhetoric. By linking Durovā€™s arrest to a broader crackdown on free expression, heā€™s framing this as a global issue ā€“ one that tech companies can no longer afford to ignore. The implications of Durovā€™s arrest are chilling. Itā€™s not just about one CEO being dragged off a plane; itā€™s about the growing power of governments to intrude into private communications on platforms that were once considered safe havens for free speech.Ā 

READ:Ā Expert: US intelligence agencies using psyops to thwart Trump, undermine democracyĀ 

Pavlovskiā€™s words resonate with a fundamental truth: the war on digital freedom is escalating, and itā€™s playing out in courtrooms and boardrooms across the world.Ā 

The question now is how many other tech leaders will join in taking a stand. Will they rally behind Durov, Musk, Pavlovski, or will they buckle under the pressure, opting for the safety of compliance over the risk of resistance? One thing is certain: as the war on free speech heats up, the choices made by todayā€™s tech CEOs will determine the landscape for years to come. And for those who believe in the sanctity of free expression, thereā€™s no room left for complacency in this fight.Ā 

Reprinted with permission fromĀ Reclaim The Net.Ā 

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DOGE discovered $330M in Small Business loans awarded to children under 11

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In a bombshell revelation at a White House cabinet meeting, Elon Musk announced that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) had uncovered over $330 million in Small Business Administration (SBA) loans issued to children under the age of 11.

Key Details:

  • Elon Musk stated that DOGE found $330 million in SBA loans given to individuals under the age of 11.
  • The youngest recipient was reportedly just nine months old, receiving a $100,000 loan.
  • SBA has now paused the direct loan process for individuals under 18 and over 120 years old.

Diving Deeper:

At a cabinet meeting held Monday at the White House, President Donald Trump and Elon MuskĀ detailed a staggering example of federal wasteĀ  uncovered by the newly-formed Department of Government Efficiency. Speaking directly to ongoing efforts to eliminate corruption and abuse in federal agencies, Musk explained that the SBA had awarded hundreds of millions in loans to childrenā€”some of whom were still in diapers.

ā€œA case of fraud was with the Small Business Administration, where they were handing out loans ā€” $330 million worth of loans to people under the age of 11,ā€ Musk said. ā€œI think the youngest, Kelly, was a nine-month year old who got a $100,000 loan. Thatā€™s a very precocious baby weā€™re talking about here.ā€

DOGEā€™s findings forced the SBA to abruptly change its loan procedures. In a post on X, the department revealed it would now require applicants to include their date of birth and was halting direct loans to those under 18 and above 120 years old. Musk commented sarcastically: ā€œNo more loans to babies or people too old to be alive.ā€

The discovery was just the latest in a series of contract cancellations and fraud crackdowns led by DOGE. According to Breitbart News, DOGE recently canceled 105 contracts totaling $935 million in potential taxpayer liabilities. The agencyā€™s website currently lists over 6,600 terminated contracts, accounting for $20 billion in savings.

The president praised Musk and DOGE for rooting out government inefficiencies, noting his administration was focused on ā€œcuttingā€ people and programs that were not working or delivering results. ā€œWeā€™re not going to let people collect paychecks or taxpayer funds without doing their jobs,ā€ Trump said.

Also during the cabinet session, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins revealed her department had eliminated a $300,000 program aimed at teaching ā€œfood justiceā€ to transgender and queer farmers in San Francisco. ā€œIā€™m not even sure what that means,ā€ Rollins said, ā€œbut apparently the last administration wanted to put our taxpayer dollars towards that.ā€

These revelations highlight what many conservatives have long suspectedā€”that during prior administrations, including under President Joe Biden, massive amounts of federal funding were funneled into unserious, ideologically-driven projects and mismanaged government programs. Under the Trump administrationā€™s second term, DOGE appears to be living up to its mission: trimming fat, exposing fraud, and putting American taxpayers first.

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Cuba has lost 24% of it’s population to emigration in the last 4 years

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Quick Hit:

A new study finds Cuba has lost nearly a quarter of its population since 2020, driven by economic collapse and a mass emigration wave unseen outside of war zones. The country’s population now stands at just over 8 million, down from nearly 10 million.

Key Details:

  • Independent study estimates Cubaā€™s population at 8.02 millionā€”down 24% in four years.
  • Over 545,000 Cubans left the island in 2024 aloneā€”double the official government figure.
  • Demographer warns the crisis mirrors depopulation seen only in wartime, calling it a “systemic collapse.”

Diving Deeper:

Cuba is undergoing a staggering demographic collapse, losing nearly one in four residents over the past four years, according to a new study by economist and demographer Juan Carlos Albizu-Campos. TheĀ report estimatesĀ that by the end of 2024, Cubaā€™s population will stand at just over 8 million peopleā€”down from nearly 10 millionā€”a 24% drop that Albizu-Campos says is comparable only to what is seen in war-torn nations.

The study,Ā accessed byĀ the Spanish news agency EFE, points to mass emigration as the primary driver. In 2024 alone, 545,011 Cubans are believed to have left the island. That number is more than double what the regime officially acknowledges, as Cubaā€™s government only counts those heading to the United States, ignoring large flows to destinations like Mexico, Spain, Serbia, and Uruguay.

Albizu-Campos describes the trend as ā€œdemographic emptying,ā€ driven by what he calls a “quasi-permanent polycrisis” in Cubaā€”an interwoven web of political repression, economic freefall, and social decay. For years, Cubans have faced food and medicine shortages, blackout-plagued days, fuel scarcity, soaring inflation, and a broken currency system. The result has been not just migration, but a desperate stampede for the exits.

Yet, the regime continues to minimize the damage. Official figures from the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI) put Cubaā€™s population at just over 10 million in 2023. However, even those numbers acknowledge a shrinking population and the lowest birth rate in decadesā€”confirming the crisis, if not its full scale.

Cuba hasnā€™t held a census since 2012. The last scheduled one in 2022 has been repeatedly delayed, allegedly due to lack of resources. Experts doubt that any new attempt will be transparent or complete.

Albizu-Campos warns that the governmentā€™s refusal to confront the reality of the collapse is obstructing any chance at solutions. More than just a demographic issue, the study describes Cubaā€™s situation as a ā€œsystemic crisis.”

 

Havana (Cuba, February 2023)” byĀ Bruno RijsmanĀ licensed underĀ CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED.
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