The community behind layer-1 blockchain The Open Network (TON) is rallying behind the messaging platform Telegram’s founder, Pavel Durov, who is currently detained in France.
French authorities arrested Durov at the Le Bourget Airport last weekend on a warrant related to Telegram’s alleged failure to moderate content linked to drugs, fraud and other criminal activities.
In a post on social media platform X, the TON Society is asking the public to support an initiative to free Durov by signing an open letter urging France to release the 39-year-old.
“Anyone who values privacy and freedom of speech should sign this letter to French authorities. We hope to reach hundreds of millions of signatures.
We urge the French authorities to Free Mr. Pavel Durov from detention.
Allow Telegram to protect the freedom of expression and right to private life for its users.
The #DigitalResistance is now. #FREEDUROV.”
The open letter says the arrest is a blatant attack on freedom of expression and the right to private life.
“Opposed to the allegations, Mr. Durov dedicated his life to secure the freedom of expression for over 950 million users today, often located in jurisdictions where such right is limited. It is not possible to make communication secure for everyone except for a select few. It is either secure or not.”
The TON blockchain was originally created by Telegram in 2018. The network’s TonCoin is currently trading for $$5.59, up by 3.91% over the last 24 hours.
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