08/26/2024 – 10:48
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Update: 08/26/2024 – 11:25
Former Intelligence Analyst Edward SnowdenThe attack, which saw the arrest of Telegram’s founder and CEO, was warned by the whistleblower, who in 2013 leaked classified information about US surveillance and espionage. Pavel Durov.
Parsing the poem by Martin NiemöllerSnowden begins the text on social media by saying: “First they came looking for TikTok, and I didn’t speak up, because I wasn’t 12; when they came looking for Telegram, I didn’t speak up… because I was using another app.” He warns that the next step will be to stand up against any other platform because he doesn’t agree with that, and ends: “And then I didn’t say anything because how could I? That’s the point.”
Snowden described Durov’s arrest as a hostage-taking and an assault on basic human rights to expression and association: “I am shocked and deeply saddened that Macron has stooped to the level of hostage-taking as a means of accessing private communications. It is not only bringing down France, but the world.”
First, they came for TikTok, and I didn’t talk –
Because I wasn’t twelve years old. Then they came to get the telegram, and I didn’t talk –
Because I was using another app or something I don’t know. Then they came to every other platform to express dissent, and I didn’t do that…— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) August 25, 2024
Arrest @Duroff This assault on the fundamental human rights of expression and association is astonishing and deeply saddening that Macron has stooped to the level of hostage-taking as a means of accessing private communications. This is not only degrading to France, but to the world.
— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) August 25, 2024
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