Welcome back to Political Misfits on Radio Sputnik, where we bring you news, politics and culture - without the red and blue treatment. I am John Kiriakou here with Michelle Witte.
Billionaire Pavel Durov, the founder and owner of the Telegram social media platform, was arrested in France on Saturday and charged with contributing to the spread of illicit material. Durov is being accused of not stopping the sharing of child pornography on Telegram, which he founded in 2013 and which now has more than 900 million users worldwide. But is this arrest really about child pornography? Child porn also has been shared on X, formerly Twitter, and on Facebook, but neither Elon Musk nor Mark Zuckerberg have been arrested or charged. So why Durov? Telegram is actually an important tool on the Russia-Ukraine battlefield. Military officials on both sides use its encrypted messaging service, rather than to have their battlefield communications intercepted by the other side. We also know that Ukrainian President Zelensky and myriad Russian military leaders use Telegram. So is this about holding Durov until he provides the French–and, by extension, the Americans and others–with a back door inside the app? // German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said over the weekend that he would seek to deport more undocumented migrants in the wake of a fatal mass stabbing carried out by a Syrian refugee over the weekend. But is it too late for Germany? The place looks more like Istanbul than stereotypical Germany now. Is it even possible to expel refugees when Germany has been the welcoming final destination for refugees for the past decade? // And Donald Trump is participating in an event at Arlington National Cemetery today to commemorate the third anniversary of the American military withdrawal from Afghanistan. The hasty withdrawal resulted in the deaths of 13 US servicemen. But Trump is trying to tie it somehow to Kamala Harris. Even if he is successful in doing that–and that’s a big “if”--does anybody behind Trump’s base care?
We’re joined by foreign affairs and security analyst Mark Sleboda.
Questions:
Hi, Mark. Thanks for joining us. The arrest over the weekend of Pavel Durov just smells bad to me. He’s apparently being investigated for “contributing to the spread of illicit material on Telegram. Other CEOs, on whose sites the same illicit material is traded, haven’t been arrested. So what are we really looking at here? Is this about giving western governments a back door into Telegram for the purpose of gaining access to military information?
Apparently, French authorities can hold Durov for 96 hours before either charging him formally with a crime or releasing him. Are we going to learn anything about this case when the 96 hours pass?
How is this meddling in Telegram going to impact private communications related to the conflict in Ukraine?
Olaf Scholz is closing the barn door in Germany after the animals have already escaped. He wants to increase deportations. First, is this feasible? And second, would it even matter? The place looks more like Turkey than it does Europe.
Donald Trump is trying hard to get people riled up over the botched American military withdrawal from Kabul three years ago, when 13 US servicemen were killed. Honestly, he seems to be flailing around looking for an issue that will stick against Kamala Harris. Is this it? Does anybody care three years after the fact?
Arrest of Telegram’s Pavel Durov Becomes Free Speech Flashpoint - The New York Times
Telegram’s billionaire CEO arrested in France - GZERO Media.
France's love-hate relationship with Telegram - POLITICO.eu
Russia’s spy chief ‘hopes’ Durov will reject French pressure — RT World News
Washington behind Durov’s arrest – Russia’s top MP — RT World News
https://t.me/sitreports/33689
Telegram founder finds out that ‘freedom’ isn’t free — RT World News
Germany's Scholz promises more deportations after visiting mass stabbing scene | Reuters
Trump tries to connect Harris to the chaotic Afghanistan War withdrawal on anniversary of attack
Share this post