Notes

Under Paris skies. A French court has denied a request by Pavel Durov, the co-founder of the encrypted-messaging app Telegram, to travel to Norway to speak at the Oslo Freedom Forum on May 27. The Human Rights Foundation—a partner organization with The Signal—invited Durov to OFF discuss free speech, surveillance, and digital rights.

• Durov is on bail in France for charges related to alleged criminal activity on Telegram. French authorities haven’t accused him of committing any crimes personally but argue that he’s legally responsible for criminal uses of his platform by others.
• Durov is on bail in France for charges related to alleged criminal activity on Telegram. French authorities haven’t accused him of committing any crimes personally but argue that he’s legally responsible for criminal uses of his platform by others.
• The Human Rights Foundation noted that blocking Durov affects not just the conference but planned private meetings with “dozens of human rights defenders from totalitarian regimes” who rely on Telegram to communicate freely.
• The Human Rights Foundation’s CEO Thor Halvorssen: “It is unfortunate that French courts would block Mr. Durov from participating in an event where his voice is so needed. Technologies like Telegram are basic tools for those resisting tyranny. This is more than a disappointment for our community; it is a setback for freedom.”

The courts have previously granted Durov permission to leave the country while on bail, making this denial unexpected—and suggesting either a changing attitude toward his case generally or concern about the nature of this high-profile speaking engagement specifically.