Tech’s Premature Telegram Freakout

There’s nothing like a billionaire’s arrest as they get off their private jet to alarm other rich people. The apprehension of Telegram founder Pavel Durov by French police as he deplaned over the weekend has more than a few techies worked up, particularly Elon Musk and other like-minded folks. Their message: This is a threat to free speech.

Well, maybe. But the response from French authorities hinted that the issue was more Durov’s unwillingness to cooperate with authorities investigating everything from child porn to drug dealing, fraud and money laundering on Telegram. That tracks: Telegram has reportedly become a haven for drug dealers, child porn distributors and other unsavory folks.