Why in news
Pavel Durov, the founder of the popular messaging platform Telegram, was arrested upon arrival in France on August 24
It sparked international debate over the responsibility of tech platforms for illegal activities conducted through their services.
Laissez-faire approach
Policy of minimum governmental interference in the economic affairs of individuals and society.
“Leave us alone” / “allow to do”
Laissez-faire was a political as well as an economic doctrine
The individual, pursuing his own desired ends, would thereby achieve the best results for the society of which he was a part.
The function of the state was to maintain order and security and to avoid interference with the initiative of the individual in pursuit of his own desired goals.
Tension Between Absolute Free Speech and Content Moderation
Absolute Free Speech: This view promotes unrestricted freedom to express any opinion or share any content, as advocated by Durov.
Need for Moderation: On the other hand, there is a need to moderate content to prevent illegal activities, such as extremism, drug trafficking, scams, and child pornography.
The challenge is balancing the freedom to express ideas with the responsibility to prevent harm and illegal activities.
A platform must find a way to moderate content without completely undermining free speech
Telegram uses encryption but not end-to-end encryption for all messages, meaning some content can be accessed by the platform itself and, potentially, by law enforcement if requested.
Telegram's laissez-faire approach means the platform might not actively moderate or remove harmful content, leading to questions about its responsibility for abuse.
Platforms need to adapt their moderation practices to keep up with new challenges and maintain a responsible approach
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