Interview with Telegram Creator Pavel Durov Conducted by Tucker Carlson in the United States
Article:
Telegram's Compliance with Regulatory Pressure: What Pavel Durov Revealed to Tucker Carlson
Tucker: Delve into the intricacies of running Telegram, the messaging behemoth you created. What are the circumstances under which Telegram must bend to regulatory pressure?
Durov: Picture this, if Romania or Estonia, or any other region, insists on wiping out the majority of Telegram channels for any reason, well… you get the job done. It's tricky to challenge it, but you're in for a long legal battle with years-long appeals. And if you don't act promptly, fines, blocks, and bans could come knocking.
Tucker: That sounds rather daunting. So, how do you balance maintaining your stance on freedom of speech with complying with such demands?
Durov: Let's keep it simple. When there are calls for violence, we take action. Case in point, back in 2017, we nixed an Iranian opposition channel that was spreading violent rhetoric[1].
Tucker: Makes sense. But does this 'violence' catch-all include any form of political or social unrest?
Durov: No, we're not law enforcers, just tech enthusiasts. We focus on our rules—no calls to violence, period.
Tucker: Speaking of regulatory pressure, what about instances where your platform is used for conservative voices to be silenced, like the French-initiated censorship in Romania? Is that something you would stand against?
Durov: Absolutely! Free speech is key, and we've shown our commitment by standing firm against censorship, even in such tense situations[3][4].
Tucker: Perhaps there's a fine line between upholding free speech and abiding by the law. What do you think about that?
Durov: True, it's a fine line, but if we must choose, we pick freedom. We'll bend where necessary, but our core values remain steadfast—freedom, privacy, and security for all.
Containerized Thoughts from @makslifeoff- When calls for violence arise, Telegram takes immediate action to maintain a peaceful digital environment while adhering to its no-violence policy[1].- Aggressive censorship attempts like the ones in Romania have been met with resistance from Telegram, putting the platform's commitment to free speech on full display[3][4].
Social-media platforms like Telegram can sometimes be used for entertainment purposes, as users share content, engage in discussions, and follow various channels. However, in certain situations, entertainment can blur with political or social issues when channels on Telegram, such as the Iranian opposition channel in 2017, are suspended due to spreading violent rhetoric, demonstrating Telegram's commitment to maintaining its rules against violence.
