The crypto gaming community on Telegram has united in protest following the arrest of the platform’s co-founder and CEO, Pavel Durov. Developers of major games like Hamster Kombat and Notcoin are voicing their solidarity through in-game gestures and public declarations. Reflecting the broad impact of this incident on the crypto sphere. Let’s understand the case and how Crypto community stands with Durov!
Details of the Arrest
Pavel Durov was arrested on Saturday evening in France after his arrival from Azerbaijan. Reports suggest the arrest was due to Telegram’s alleged failures in moderating content that facilitated illegal activities. This includes accusations of the platform being used for terrorism, narcotics trade, stolen goods transactions, and the distribution of child sexual abuse material.
Community Response
In reaction to the arrest, prominent Telegram crypto games began circulating an animated sticker featuring the Telegram app icon. Symbolizing their support for Durov. Notcoin’s community channel went as far as to issue statements regarding the arrest, emphasizing, “Privacy is not a crime,” a sentiment echoed by Hamster Kombat which introduced a “#FREEDUROV” card to its gameplay.
Solidarity Across the Board
The response extended beyond game developers. Drawing comments from notable figures such as Twitter owner Elon Musk and whistleblower Edward Snowden. Snowden criticized the arrest as an attack on fundamental human rights. Specifically targeting French President Emmanuel Macron for what he described as a descent into using “hostages as a means for gaining access to private communications.”
The arrest of Pavel Durov has not only sparked outcry among the developers of Telegram-based crypto games. But has also resonated across the broader tech and crypto communities. As the situation unfolds, the unified stance of the crypto gaming world highlights the ongoing debate over privacy, freedom of speech, and the role of technology platforms in moderating user content.