President Macron Speaks Out on Freedom of Expression Amid Pavel Durov’s Arrest

France’s prosecutor’s office has provided additional details regarding the arrest of Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov on Aug. 24. In an Aug. 26 notice, French prosecutors stated that Durov had been detained as part of a judicial investigation “against person unnamed” on charges including complicity in illegal activities, refusal to communicate with authorities, money laundering, criminal association, and providing cryptology services without prior declaration. Authorities indicated their intention to question Durov as part of this investigation and have extended his custody timeframe from Aug. 25 to Aug. 28. This announcement came after French President Emmanuel Macron addressed what he