Chris Pavlovski, the CEO of Rumble, a popular video-sharing site, has made a dramatic exit from Europe. His departure comes in the wake of a high-profile arrest that has sent shockwaves through the tech world.
The arrest in question involves Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of Telegram, a major messaging app. Durov was detained by French authorities at a Paris airport after arriving from Azerbaijan on a private jet. The reason for his arrest hasn’t been officially announced yet, but rumors suggest it’s linked to serious charges including drug trafficking, pedophilia, fraud, and failing to address criminal activity on Telegram.
Telegram has firmly denied these allegations, calling them “absurd” and insisting that the platform cannot be held responsible for the actions of its users.
Reacting to Durov’s arrest, Pavlovski, who heads Rumble, quickly left Europe, saying France had “crossed a red line.” Pavlovski is upset because Rumble has been in a legal struggle with French authorities since late 2022. The conflict began when France demanded that Rumble remove certain Russian media accounts, which Rumble refused to do. This refusal led to a ban on Rumble in France.
Pavlovski has criticized the French move as an attack on free speech, and he promised to fight back using all legal options available. He also expressed hope that Durov would be released soon.
The situation has sparked a lot of speculation. Some people, including American entrepreneur David Sacks, believe the US might be behind Durov’s arrest. Sacks also warned that the US could target other platforms like Telegram, X (formerly Twitter), and even Rumble, especially after new laws that could affect apps like TikTok.
The arrest of Durov and Pavlovski’s quick exit from Europe have created a storm in the tech world, raising questions about freedom of speech and the extent of government control over online platforms.
