Criminal investigation against billionaire Telegram CEO

On Wednesday, Telegram founder Pavel Durov was charged in France with a variety of crimes related to illegal activities on the app. His detention is part of an ongoing investigation by French authorities into the social media app.

Telegram, with its over 900 million users, often provides insight into what is happening in countries where government censorship is widespread. At the same time, the app can be a haven for hate speech and crime due to its encryption and lack of content moderation.

Durov's arrest has already sparked a heated debate about whether tech leaders should be held accountable for what happens on their platforms. Technology journalist Chris Stokel-Walker examines what Telegram stands for, how its founder is being scrutinized, and what this case might tell us about the limits of free speech online.

Transcripts from Front Burner can be found at: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/frontburner/transcripts

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