Political Factors in Global Communication Platforms: Pavel Durov’s Case

A balance between national security and fundamental human rights is of great importance in the digital age. This research featured the recent conflict between Pavel Durov, the founder of the Telegram messenger, and the French authorities. The analysis relied on Johan Galtung’s theory of structural v...

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Main Authors: Choi Keunwon, Zotova Tatyana Andreevna
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Kemerovo State University 2025-06-01
Series:Вестник Кемеровского государственного университета. Серия: политические, социологические и экономические науки
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Online Access:http://doi.org/10.21603/2500-3372-2025-10-2-205-214
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author Choi Keunwon
Zotova Tatyana Andreevna
author_facet Choi Keunwon
Zotova Tatyana Andreevna
author_sort Choi Keunwon
collection DOAJ
description A balance between national security and fundamental human rights is of great importance in the digital age. This research featured the recent conflict between Pavel Durov, the founder of the Telegram messenger, and the French authorities. The analysis relied on Johan Galtung’s theory of structural violence in the context of the global confrontation between technology companies and government agencies with a focus on national security and data privacy issues. The historical, legal, and social contexts were described from the perspective of political factors. The conflict contributed to the legitimization of state control over digital platforms as a result of institutional pressure from the state, information inequality, and cultural violence. The French authorities applied institutional pressure by using institutional advantages to achieve control over the private data of Telegram users. Governmental access to confidential information aggravated information inequality that violated citizens’ rights to privacy and freedom of expression. The development of a public narrative about the priority of security over privacy was assessed as a form of cultural violence that legitimizes governmental interference in private life. Pavel Durov’s position was interpreted as nonviolent resistance to structural violence, aimed at protecting the digital rights of users and maintaining the balance of power between the state and technology companies. New legislative international standards for regulating digital platforms and innovative technological solutions could lead to a compromise of interests.
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publisher Kemerovo State University
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series Вестник Кемеровского государственного университета. Серия: политические, социологические и экономические науки
spelling doaj-art-2d98b29344a848099aeac0c85e76f2842025-08-20T02:35:54ZengKemerovo State UniversityВестник Кемеровского государственного университета. Серия: политические, социологические и экономические науки2500-33722542-11902025-06-0110220522810.21603/2500-3372-2025-10-2-205-214Political Factors in Global Communication Platforms: Pavel Durov’s CaseChoi Keunwon0Zotova Tatyana Andreevna1Military Educational and Scientific Centre of the Air Force «Professor N.E. Zhukovsky and Y.A. Gagarin Air Force Academy»Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education "Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation" Vladikavkaz BranchA balance between national security and fundamental human rights is of great importance in the digital age. This research featured the recent conflict between Pavel Durov, the founder of the Telegram messenger, and the French authorities. The analysis relied on Johan Galtung’s theory of structural violence in the context of the global confrontation between technology companies and government agencies with a focus on national security and data privacy issues. The historical, legal, and social contexts were described from the perspective of political factors. The conflict contributed to the legitimization of state control over digital platforms as a result of institutional pressure from the state, information inequality, and cultural violence. The French authorities applied institutional pressure by using institutional advantages to achieve control over the private data of Telegram users. Governmental access to confidential information aggravated information inequality that violated citizens’ rights to privacy and freedom of expression. The development of a public narrative about the priority of security over privacy was assessed as a form of cultural violence that legitimizes governmental interference in private life. Pavel Durov’s position was interpreted as nonviolent resistance to structural violence, aimed at protecting the digital rights of users and maintaining the balance of power between the state and technology companies. New legislative international standards for regulating digital platforms and innovative technological solutions could lead to a compromise of interests.http://doi.org/10.21603/2500-3372-2025-10-2-205-214Telegram Pavel Durov digital security international conflict information privacy social polarization
spellingShingle Choi Keunwon
Zotova Tatyana Andreevna
Political Factors in Global Communication Platforms: Pavel Durov’s Case
Вестник Кемеровского государственного университета. Серия: политические, социологические и экономические науки
Telegram
Pavel Durov
digital security
international conflict
information privacy
social polarization
title Political Factors in Global Communication Platforms: Pavel Durov’s Case
title_full Political Factors in Global Communication Platforms: Pavel Durov’s Case
title_fullStr Political Factors in Global Communication Platforms: Pavel Durov’s Case
title_full_unstemmed Political Factors in Global Communication Platforms: Pavel Durov’s Case
title_short Political Factors in Global Communication Platforms: Pavel Durov’s Case
title_sort political factors in global communication platforms pavel durov s case
topic Telegram
Pavel Durov
digital security
international conflict
information privacy
social polarization
url http://doi.org/10.21603/2500-3372-2025-10-2-205-214
work_keys_str_mv AT choikeunwon politicalfactorsinglobalcommunicationplatformspaveldurovscase
AT zotovatatyanaandreevna politicalfactorsinglobalcommunicationplatformspaveldurovscase