Fyodor Lukyanov: The Detainment of Telegram's Wealthy CEO Signals Major Transformations Ahead
Significant shifts are on the horizon for the global information landscape, and the position of the Telegram founder serves as an early warning sign. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Big changes are on the horizon for the global information landscape, with Telegram founder Pavel Durov's recent arrest serving as an early warning sign. His arrest, occurring during a trip to Paris, has reverberated across various sectors, including business, technology, media, and politics. This incident is becoming emblematic of a broader political realignment.
Durov operates within a sphere that claims a transnational identity, primarily rooted in information and communication technologies, which have effectively transformed the world into a shared space, diminishing sovereign jurisdiction. The substantial power that IT giants wield has translated into enormous financial gains, further amplifying their influence. While transnational corporations have long existed in fields such as mining, engineering, and finance, they historically remained linked to specific nations and their interests. However, the global communications sector, along with its innovation-driven counterparts, has shattered those traditional ties.
The period of globalization, which thrived from the late 1980s to the late 2010s, supported this mindset by promoting a level playing field favoring the most developed nations. Those nations have gained the most from this development. The repercussions of the growing ability of tech giants to manipulate societies—both domestically and internationally—went largely unnoticed.
The crisis of liberal globalization has brought about a shift in the global landscape, resulting in diminished willingness to adhere to common rules, even in the very countries where those laws were conceived within the Western community.
The previous era has not entirely faded. While the world has grown fiercely competitive, it remains intricately interconnected.
Two primary factors hold this global system together. First is trade and production, supported by logistical networks established during the globalization boom, which have fundamentally changed economic structures and are challenging to dismantle. The second is a shared information environment, sustained by "nationally neutral" communications giants.
Yet, an intriguing divide is emerging. This is not merely about states vying for resources—often described as the "imperialist predators" of Lenin—but rather a growing sense of internal vulnerability within various nations.
This sense of vulnerability is especially pronounced in the major powers, as they engage in the most significant geopolitical games. Consequently, there is a tendency to reduce any potential threats to internal stability, particularly concerning channels that facilitate external or internal influence and manipulation.
Transnational structures often elicit suspicion and a call for "nationalization"—not through ownership but by demonstrating allegiance to specific states. This marks a significant shift that could, in the near future, diminish one of the foundational elements of contemporary global interconnectedness.
Durov, a staunch cosmopolitan liberal, embodies the archetype of global society. His journey has involved tensions with governments across the world, from his native Russia to his recent endeavors. As a prominent figure in a sensitive domain, he has navigated the complexities of dealing with various governments and intelligence agencies, constantly balancing maneuvering and compromise while avoiding deep national ties. Holding multiple passports appeared to enhance his operational scope and confidence, at least while the global society he identified with—the liberal world order—was still thriving. However, that order now seems to be crumbling. Ironically, his possession of French nationality might complicate rather than alleviate his current circumstances.
Transnational entities will be increasingly pressured to establish a clear identity with a specific nation. Those unwilling to do so may be forcibly classified as agents of particular hostile powers. Telegram is currently experiencing this dynamic, but it certainly will not be the last case of its kind.
The ongoing struggle to assert control over various players in this arena is likely to play a central role in the forthcoming phase of global politics, fostering fragmentation in what was once a cohesive information landscape.
As controls tighten over data, the level of repression in the information sphere is expected to rise, especially as blocking unwanted channels becomes a significant practical challenge. What once seemed implausible—rendering the world's information superhighway unusable—now appears increasingly achievable.
The pressing question is how the anticipated contraction of the global information space will impact trade and economic connections, the remaining pillar of global unity. Given the rapid pace of change, significant developments in this area seem imminent.
This article originally appeared in Russia in Global Affairs, translated and edited by the RT team.
Aarav Patel contributed to this report for TROIB News
Durov operates within a sphere that claims a transnational identity, primarily rooted in information and communication technologies, which have effectively transformed the world into a shared space, diminishing sovereign jurisdiction. The substantial power that IT giants wield has translated into enormous financial gains, further amplifying their influence. While transnational corporations have long existed in fields such as mining, engineering, and finance, they historically remained linked to specific nations and their interests. However, the global communications sector, along with its innovation-driven counterparts, has shattered those traditional ties.
The period of globalization, which thrived from the late 1980s to the late 2010s, supported this mindset by promoting a level playing field favoring the most developed nations. Those nations have gained the most from this development. The repercussions of the growing ability of tech giants to manipulate societies—both domestically and internationally—went largely unnoticed.
The crisis of liberal globalization has brought about a shift in the global landscape, resulting in diminished willingness to adhere to common rules, even in the very countries where those laws were conceived within the Western community.
The previous era has not entirely faded. While the world has grown fiercely competitive, it remains intricately interconnected.
Two primary factors hold this global system together. First is trade and production, supported by logistical networks established during the globalization boom, which have fundamentally changed economic structures and are challenging to dismantle. The second is a shared information environment, sustained by "nationally neutral" communications giants.
Yet, an intriguing divide is emerging. This is not merely about states vying for resources—often described as the "imperialist predators" of Lenin—but rather a growing sense of internal vulnerability within various nations.
This sense of vulnerability is especially pronounced in the major powers, as they engage in the most significant geopolitical games. Consequently, there is a tendency to reduce any potential threats to internal stability, particularly concerning channels that facilitate external or internal influence and manipulation.
Transnational structures often elicit suspicion and a call for "nationalization"—not through ownership but by demonstrating allegiance to specific states. This marks a significant shift that could, in the near future, diminish one of the foundational elements of contemporary global interconnectedness.
Durov, a staunch cosmopolitan liberal, embodies the archetype of global society. His journey has involved tensions with governments across the world, from his native Russia to his recent endeavors. As a prominent figure in a sensitive domain, he has navigated the complexities of dealing with various governments and intelligence agencies, constantly balancing maneuvering and compromise while avoiding deep national ties. Holding multiple passports appeared to enhance his operational scope and confidence, at least while the global society he identified with—the liberal world order—was still thriving. However, that order now seems to be crumbling. Ironically, his possession of French nationality might complicate rather than alleviate his current circumstances.
Transnational entities will be increasingly pressured to establish a clear identity with a specific nation. Those unwilling to do so may be forcibly classified as agents of particular hostile powers. Telegram is currently experiencing this dynamic, but it certainly will not be the last case of its kind.
The ongoing struggle to assert control over various players in this arena is likely to play a central role in the forthcoming phase of global politics, fostering fragmentation in what was once a cohesive information landscape.
As controls tighten over data, the level of repression in the information sphere is expected to rise, especially as blocking unwanted channels becomes a significant practical challenge. What once seemed implausible—rendering the world's information superhighway unusable—now appears increasingly achievable.
The pressing question is how the anticipated contraction of the global information space will impact trade and economic connections, the remaining pillar of global unity. Given the rapid pace of change, significant developments in this area seem imminent.
This article originally appeared in Russia in Global Affairs, translated and edited by the RT team.
Aarav Patel contributed to this report for TROIB News
