Ok, I’d never heard of ‘Telegram’, the media ‘thing’, until last week when Pavel Durov, the owner, was arrested in France. For ‘being in possession of a communication medium which bad people use’. Ya don’t mess with Macron. He might look like a scrawny little mummy’s boy scrap of arrogance and typically French stroppiness, but he’s tough as… tough as something that acts tough but in fact is limp and rather lacking.

Telegram is a communication device. A cross between WhatsApp and ‘X’. Like the former because its for direct communication, though its not ‘encrypted’ like WhatsApp, so be careful who you send pictures of your willy to. And not quite as ‘out there’ as ‘X’ but it does handle ‘groups’ of up to a million or so. And here’s the problem. Some really naughty people have been sending some really bad shit over Telegram. Child pornography, so we know the signal must reach the BBC, drug deals, so Goldman Sacks might be involved, and terrorism.

From my perspective, arresting poor Pavel is a bit like arresting the CEO of British Telecom because two bank robbers made their plans over the phone. But my perspective can be a little warped at times, I grant you. “These people should be blocked!!!!”, they cry. But I thought ‘blocking’ was only for high profile nasties and terrorists, like Tommy Robinson, Osam Bin Laden and Donald Trump. Who can always use ‘X’ because Elon fraternises with terrorists, but only if they’re of the ‘extreme right’ variety.

They want to shoot the messenger. And that can be ok, but they really should start with Elon Musk who has more ability to ‘block’ than Telegram. But to what extent are you responsible for the people using your platform?

When the good people of Belarus (and there must be at least 7) discussed protest against the vile and murderous Putin-clone dictator who rules them, all social media was shut down by that government. But they couldn’t shut Telegram. Similarly in Russia, its the only ‘outside information’ Russians can get. Putin wanted data about dissidents, but Pavel left Russia instead, back in 2014 and hasn’t returned.

Thus the debate ensues: freedom of speech vs controlling of the media. You can’t have governments deciding who’s allowed to voice an opinion. Well, you can, but those governments would be in North Korea, Iran and Belarus. Possibly France. And no-one wants child porn and terrorism. Except kiddy-fiddlers and terrorists, I suppose, but those people exist and will always find ways to connect. The mode of connection shouldn’t be punished unless its wilfully complicit or intentionally negligent. And I really don’t think Telegram is either.

But what do I know?

Happy Friday

A xxxx