Snowden criticizes Macron for ‘taking hostages’
NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden argues that France's President Macron has stooped to taking hostages, following Paris's detention of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
The arrest of Telegram's founder and CEO, Pavel Durov, is seen as a threat to foundational human rights, according to Edward Snowden, a former contractor for the CIA and NSA. Snowden expressed his dismay, stating, "I am deeply saddened" by French President Emmanuel Macron's actions.
Durov, a tech mogul with citizenships in France, the UAE, and Saint Kitts and Nevis, was detained shortly after his arrival at Paris-Le Bourget Airport on Saturday. He is scheduled to appear in court on Sunday evening, as reported by several news outlets. It is believed that his arrest was due to an alleged failure to sufficiently moderate his platform, leading to its purported widespread use by criminals.
Snowden, took to social media to comment on the incident, saying, “the arrest of Durov is an assault on the basic human rights of speech and association.”
Further critiquing Macron's decision, Snowden remarked, “I am surprised and deeply saddened that Macron has descended to the level of taking hostages as a means for gaining access to private communications,” suggesting that such actions tarnish not just France's image, but also that of the broader international community.
Snowden, who once exposed massive illegal surveillance activities by the NSA on U.S citizens, sought refuge abroad in 2013. He was temporarily stranded in Moscow after the U.S revoked his passport, until Russia provided him with asylum and later, citizenship, as per reports.
In other news from July, Pavel Durov revealed that Telegram had reached a milestone of 950 million active monthly users.
Additional reports indicate that protests have occurred at the French embassy in Moscow, calling for Durov’s immediate release.
Sophie Wagner for TROIB News
Durov, a tech mogul with citizenships in France, the UAE, and Saint Kitts and Nevis, was detained shortly after his arrival at Paris-Le Bourget Airport on Saturday. He is scheduled to appear in court on Sunday evening, as reported by several news outlets. It is believed that his arrest was due to an alleged failure to sufficiently moderate his platform, leading to its purported widespread use by criminals.
Snowden, took to social media to comment on the incident, saying, “the arrest of Durov is an assault on the basic human rights of speech and association.”
Further critiquing Macron's decision, Snowden remarked, “I am surprised and deeply saddened that Macron has descended to the level of taking hostages as a means for gaining access to private communications,” suggesting that such actions tarnish not just France's image, but also that of the broader international community.
Snowden, who once exposed massive illegal surveillance activities by the NSA on U.S citizens, sought refuge abroad in 2013. He was temporarily stranded in Moscow after the U.S revoked his passport, until Russia provided him with asylum and later, citizenship, as per reports.
In other news from July, Pavel Durov revealed that Telegram had reached a milestone of 950 million active monthly users.
Additional reports indicate that protests have occurred at the French embassy in Moscow, calling for Durov’s immediate release.
Sophie Wagner for TROIB News
