Category: Freedom of Speech and Expression

Who Is Telegram’s Pavel Durov and Why Was He Arrested in France?

Pavel Durov has been detained in France, as part of wide-ranging investigation into criminal activities on the messaging platform he runs.
How Pavel Durov, Telegram’s Founder, Went From Russia’s Mark Zuckerberg to Wanted Man

Pavel Durov’s anti-establishment streak helped him create one of the world’s biggest online platforms, which emphasizes free speech. It also put a target on his back.
Telegram Founder’s Arrest Part of Broad Investigation, French Prosecutors Say

A case was opened last month to investigate child pornography, drug sales, fraud and other criminal activities on the platform. The app’s founder, Pavel Durov, was detained over the weekend near Paris.
Telegram’s Top Executive Pavel Durov Reportedly Detained in France

The founder of Telegram, an app with more than 900 million users, was taken into custody by authorities, French media reported.
Pakistan’s Internet Disruptions Stoke Fears of Government Surveillance

Disruptions have fueled claims from rights groups that the Pakistani authorities are introducing technology to surveil and control the country’s internet.
Senate Passes Child Online Safety Bill, Sending It to an Uncertain House Fate

The legislation would impose stricter privacy rules and safeguards for children on the internet and social media, but concerns about free speech and fierce industry lobbying pose challenges.
Justice Dept. Defends TikTok Law That Forces App’s Sale or Ban

In its first detailed response to a legal challenge, the agency said TikTok’s proposed changes wouldn’t prevent China from using it to collect U.S. users’ data or spread propaganda.
Is Xenophobia on Chinese Social Media Teaching Real-World Hate?

Violent attacks on foreigners have prompted a debate about extreme nationalism online in a country that heavily censors information the government bans.
How Norman Rockwell’s “Freedom of Speech” Painting Went Viral

“Freedom of Speech,” the World War II-era painting by Norman Rockwell, has taken on a new life online.
How Julian Assange Lit the Fuse on the Digital World

In his brazen quest for total transparency, the WikiLeaks founder paved the way for a world in which no secret is safe and no institution trusted.
Supreme Court Rejects Challenge to Biden Administration’s Contacts With Social Media Companies

The case, one of several this term on how the First Amendment applies to technology platforms, was dismissed on the ground that the plaintiffs lacked standing to sue.
Columbia Grads Reflect on How the Campus Protests Have Shaped Them

As students in Columbia’s class of 2024 received their diplomas, many of them were grappling with what intense activism on campus would mean to their futures.