UN raises concerns over Telegram founder Pavel Durov's arrest

The United Nations has expressed significant human rights concerns regarding the recent arrest and charges against Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram.

These concerns focus on potential infringements of human rights standards and the need for legality and proportionality in regulating social media platforms.

At a briefing on Tuesday, Ravina Shamdasani, a spokeswoman for the U.N. Human Rights Office, highlighted the complexity of Durov's case and its associated human rights issues.

"This is a very complex case. It raises a lot of human rights concerns," Shamdasani stated, noting the challenges in evaluating the situation without comprehensive information.

Durov was detained at Le Bourget airport near Paris on August 24 and now faces multiple charges related to his Telegram app.

French authorities have restricted him from leaving the country, which has sparked debate among his supporters, who view him as a proponent of free speech, and critics, who argue that Telegram lacks sufficient oversight.

Shamdasani emphasised that the U.N. is closely monitoring the developments but acknowledged the difficulty in providing further commentary without complete information.

She stressed that the principles of legality, necessity, and proportionality must be addressed, especially in relation to hate speech, incitement to hatred or violence, and harmful disinformation.

Shamdasani also drew parallels to similar issues in Brazil, where Elon Musk’s social media platform X faced a ban.

She noted that while governments have a responsibility to regulate social media, any restrictions must be proportionate and consistent with international human rights standards.

The U.N.'s concerns underscore the complexities involved in regulating social media platforms while balancing public order and fundamental human rights.