Update on the Western-French attack on @durov /Telegram
The French bureaucracy has said very little on the subject, true to its secretive spirit. However, in one line, it gave an extremely obvious element, on the subject of the "freedoms" that I had mentioned "quickly" yesterday , which only the most observant have been able to read in detail.
Added at the time of proofreading , since the line has become a double-page ...
This is what has seemed obvious for several years and which will explain, with what follows, the obvious accusations.
And that is what it is about: French bureaucrats cannot accept that someone uses and/or provides means of obfuscation in financial exchanges, in circumventing censorship and in circumventing surveillance. This is not possible. And furthermore, making money by providing these means, for a French bureaucrat, is complicity.
Beyond the sole interest in obtaining all or part of Telegram's keys, French bureaucrats will most likely try to dismantle the obfuscation (called "circumvention" of state rules & restrictions in yesterday's article) on Telegram and on TON and the link between the two. And/or punish the offender . To do this, they declare that they are using an important financial case whose resolution is made impossible because of these obfuscations , which allows them to invoke complicity.
In my opinion, we are in for "more" than a few days, even months or years.
Paradoxically, if this is settled in a few days, it is because the bureaucrats will have obtained concrete guarantees that they can ignore all the obfuscations on simple request, and then our dear @durov can be declared cleared of all suspicion in the eyes of the bureaucrats (unless they make him pay for the years during which things have escaped them, and the current delay that allows the beneficiaries to shelter themselves and their money). But in this case, it will be his "investors" who will have suspicions .
If, on the contrary, the case drags on, and even worse, if it even goes to trial and a heavy sentence, this will mean that he has not collaborated on these issues in the eyes of the bureaucrats, and therefore that in their eyes, he is still an accomplice (or that he has revealed to them that he is the incriminated person). But can he collaborate without putting himself in danger ?
In my opinion, we should not be very naive when we talk about big money, billionaire investors in TON, and outrage: the beautiful philosophical values and freedom are used by some, the big words of the charges which frighten, by others.
But it goes without saying that this case has suddenly appeared because those who profit from it are not the French or at worst European or at most Western oligarchs, and they want to torpedo their rivals who circumvent Western rules and laws. Otherwise, it would have been arranged over a meal. Here, the violence against @durov is on a par with the affront that the bureaucrats (and their Franco-European-Western oligarch friends) consider themselves to have suffered. It seems to be a very big affront...
As for the future of Telegram or TON, everything will depend on the outcome of the things that are currently happening in the shadows of French jails and who is currently paying for and controlling Telegram and TON. On this subject, some are talking about associating the penalties for the possible refusal to collaborate with the blocking of Telegram and/or TON in France or Europe, bureaucratically speaking it will be a question of blocking a means used to circumvent the rules & laws.
It will still be extremely interesting.
@durov was impressively naive in going (in every sense of the word) to Paris, French citizenship or not.
@ZZ_0Z_Z0ZZ_fr
#PavelDurov #Telegram
The French bureaucracy has said very little on the subject, true to its secretive spirit. However, in one line, it gave an extremely obvious element, on the subject of the "freedoms" that I had mentioned "quickly" yesterday , which only the most observant have been able to read in detail.
Added at the time of proofreading , since the line has become a double-page ...
This is what has seemed obvious for several years and which will explain, with what follows, the obvious accusations.
And that is what it is about: French bureaucrats cannot accept that someone uses and/or provides means of obfuscation in financial exchanges, in circumventing censorship and in circumventing surveillance. This is not possible. And furthermore, making money by providing these means, for a French bureaucrat, is complicity.
Beyond the sole interest in obtaining all or part of Telegram's keys, French bureaucrats will most likely try to dismantle the obfuscation (called "circumvention" of state rules & restrictions in yesterday's article) on Telegram and on TON and the link between the two. And/or punish the offender . To do this, they declare that they are using an important financial case whose resolution is made impossible because of these obfuscations , which allows them to invoke complicity.
In my opinion, we are in for "more" than a few days, even months or years.
Paradoxically, if this is settled in a few days, it is because the bureaucrats will have obtained concrete guarantees that they can ignore all the obfuscations on simple request, and then our dear @durov can be declared cleared of all suspicion in the eyes of the bureaucrats (unless they make him pay for the years during which things have escaped them, and the current delay that allows the beneficiaries to shelter themselves and their money). But in this case, it will be his "investors" who will have suspicions .
If, on the contrary, the case drags on, and even worse, if it even goes to trial and a heavy sentence, this will mean that he has not collaborated on these issues in the eyes of the bureaucrats, and therefore that in their eyes, he is still an accomplice (or that he has revealed to them that he is the incriminated person). But can he collaborate without putting himself in danger ?
In my opinion, we should not be very naive when we talk about big money, billionaire investors in TON, and outrage: the beautiful philosophical values and freedom are used by some, the big words of the charges which frighten, by others.
But it goes without saying that this case has suddenly appeared because those who profit from it are not the French or at worst European or at most Western oligarchs, and they want to torpedo their rivals who circumvent Western rules and laws. Otherwise, it would have been arranged over a meal. Here, the violence against @durov is on a par with the affront that the bureaucrats (and their Franco-European-Western oligarch friends) consider themselves to have suffered. It seems to be a very big affront...
As for the future of Telegram or TON, everything will depend on the outcome of the things that are currently happening in the shadows of French jails and who is currently paying for and controlling Telegram and TON. On this subject, some are talking about associating the penalties for the possible refusal to collaborate with the blocking of Telegram and/or TON in France or Europe, bureaucratically speaking it will be a question of blocking a means used to circumvent the rules & laws.
It will still be extremely interesting.
@durov was impressively naive in going (in every sense of the word) to Paris, French citizenship or not.
@ZZ_0Z_Z0ZZ_fr
#PavelDurov #Telegram
Forwarded from Digital Fightback
If Telegram is blocked in the UK - how to get back on.
(1) Use a VPN with a non-UK IP.
(2) Use a proxy - search MTProto Proxy in Telegram.
(3) Route Telegram through tor.
The govt can easily block any site in the UK, they simply add telegram.org to the Internet Service Provider (ISP) ban list, which already has 1000s of URLs such as torrent and pirating sites.
At that point, UK Telegram users will be wiped out.
You will still be able to open telegram, and view the cached content, but no new content will load, and you won't be able to post or message.
These three methods will show you how to get back on.
Note: you should experiment with these methods now, since they may be more difficult after telegram is banned. Copy and paste all this text now onto your computer / phone, or send to a different platform, so you have a copy of it, outside of telegram.
1. Telegram proxy list
Proxy MTProto is Telegram's official proxy channel (it has 7M subs). Join it now so the content is cached. Digital Fightback is not associated with this channel and does not make any money from it.
https://t.me/ProxyMTProto
Press 'Connect' on any of the posts. This will change your network settings (in telegram only).
All telegram traffic will now be routed through that proxy. A proxy is simply another computer somewhere that relays your traffic to its destination.
You can determine it's geographical location with a IP lookup online.
The connection is likely to be slower. Some proxies might fail to connect, just try others.
To set it back to default, open the telegram menu, then click Settings - Advanced - Connection type, then select "Use system proxy settings" and press ok.
If/when Telegram is blocked in the UK, you can still open Telegram. Go to Proxy MTProto. The content should be cached there, so you still should be able to click 'connect'.
Telegram proxies are widely used where Telegram is blocked, China, Pakistan etc.
Note that some of these proxies may add you to their sponsor channel - and may be in a foreign language. In that case, choose a different proxy.
2. VPN
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a way to route all network traffic from your device through the IP address of the VPN provider. To avoid a Telegram block in the UK, select a VPN IP in a different country where Telegram is not blocked.
You don't need to change anything in Telegram network settings.
There are free VPNs, but are usually poor quality.
Its preferable to use a paid service, prices are typically around £5/month, with discounts for yearly payments.
Note that your ISP, the govt etc, can now not see any of your traffic. However the VPN provider can see your unencrypted traffic, and the domain names of your https traffic.
3. Routing Telegram via Tor
Tor (The Onion Router) is a way to hide your IP address from anyone watching your connection (ISPs, govts, big tech).
The most popular usage of it is with Tor Browser.
But you can route other programs through tor, including Telegram.
On Desktop, install tor first by the normal method. On mobile, install the orbot app. In both cases, make sure tor is running.
Then go into telegram network settings / connection type (see above), check "Use custom proxy", "Add proxy". In the hostname, write "localhost" and in port put "9050".
Also note that you can get on telegram (channels only, not groups) directly in a browser, without having an account.
Just prefix the channel name with "t.me/s/" like so:
t.me/s/dailyexpose
If telegram is blocked in the UK, then you can use a VPN or Tor Browser to access telegram in the browser.
Then you could access the Proxy MTProto channel, and manually copy/paste proxy details into your network settings.
t.me/Digital_Fightback
(1) Use a VPN with a non-UK IP.
(2) Use a proxy - search MTProto Proxy in Telegram.
(3) Route Telegram through tor.
The govt can easily block any site in the UK, they simply add telegram.org to the Internet Service Provider (ISP) ban list, which already has 1000s of URLs such as torrent and pirating sites.
At that point, UK Telegram users will be wiped out.
You will still be able to open telegram, and view the cached content, but no new content will load, and you won't be able to post or message.
These three methods will show you how to get back on.
Note: you should experiment with these methods now, since they may be more difficult after telegram is banned. Copy and paste all this text now onto your computer / phone, or send to a different platform, so you have a copy of it, outside of telegram.
1. Telegram proxy list
Proxy MTProto is Telegram's official proxy channel (it has 7M subs). Join it now so the content is cached. Digital Fightback is not associated with this channel and does not make any money from it.
https://t.me/ProxyMTProto
Press 'Connect' on any of the posts. This will change your network settings (in telegram only).
All telegram traffic will now be routed through that proxy. A proxy is simply another computer somewhere that relays your traffic to its destination.
You can determine it's geographical location with a IP lookup online.
The connection is likely to be slower. Some proxies might fail to connect, just try others.
To set it back to default, open the telegram menu, then click Settings - Advanced - Connection type, then select "Use system proxy settings" and press ok.
If/when Telegram is blocked in the UK, you can still open Telegram. Go to Proxy MTProto. The content should be cached there, so you still should be able to click 'connect'.
Telegram proxies are widely used where Telegram is blocked, China, Pakistan etc.
Note that some of these proxies may add you to their sponsor channel - and may be in a foreign language. In that case, choose a different proxy.
2. VPN
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a way to route all network traffic from your device through the IP address of the VPN provider. To avoid a Telegram block in the UK, select a VPN IP in a different country where Telegram is not blocked.
You don't need to change anything in Telegram network settings.
There are free VPNs, but are usually poor quality.
Its preferable to use a paid service, prices are typically around £5/month, with discounts for yearly payments.
Note that your ISP, the govt etc, can now not see any of your traffic. However the VPN provider can see your unencrypted traffic, and the domain names of your https traffic.
3. Routing Telegram via Tor
Tor (The Onion Router) is a way to hide your IP address from anyone watching your connection (ISPs, govts, big tech).
The most popular usage of it is with Tor Browser.
But you can route other programs through tor, including Telegram.
On Desktop, install tor first by the normal method. On mobile, install the orbot app. In both cases, make sure tor is running.
Then go into telegram network settings / connection type (see above), check "Use custom proxy", "Add proxy". In the hostname, write "localhost" and in port put "9050".
Also note that you can get on telegram (channels only, not groups) directly in a browser, without having an account.
Just prefix the channel name with "t.me/s/" like so:
t.me/s/dailyexpose
If telegram is blocked in the UK, then you can use a VPN or Tor Browser to access telegram in the browser.
Then you could access the Proxy MTProto channel, and manually copy/paste proxy details into your network settings.
t.me/Digital_Fightback
Telegram
Proxy MTProto
FAST MTPROTO PROXIES FOR TELEGRAM
#DigitalResistance
Donate us:
t.me/ProxyMTProto/46258
ADS:
@Ads_ProxyMTProto
https://proxymtpro.to
#DigitalResistance
Donate us:
t.me/ProxyMTProto/46258
ADS:
@Ads_ProxyMTProto
https://proxymtpro.to
Just a reminder :
The previous post is incorrect if EU zogNato decide to ban channels.Telegram blocks EU based phone numbers linked to users accounts, so this cannot be bypassed by TOR/VPN or DNS .
In a statement, Telegram spokesperson Remi Vaughn said the social network had now barred Kremlin-backed media outlets from using its platform within the EU. “The process is now completed and all RT channels are blocked,” he said. Vaughn said the ban currently applied to only people who had signed into Telegram with an EU-based phone number. The companies' engineers were expanding that to include people with non-EU phone numbers who were physically located in the bloc.
Telegram bans Russian state media after pressure from Europe | POLITICO
The previous post is incorrect if EU zogNato decide to ban channels.Telegram blocks EU based phone numbers linked to users accounts, so this cannot be bypassed by TOR/VPN or DNS .
In a statement, Telegram spokesperson Remi Vaughn said the social network had now barred Kremlin-backed media outlets from using its platform within the EU. “The process is now completed and all RT channels are blocked,” he said. Vaughn said the ban currently applied to only people who had signed into Telegram with an EU-based phone number. The companies' engineers were expanding that to include people with non-EU phone numbers who were physically located in the bloc.
Telegram bans Russian state media after pressure from Europe | POLITICO
🇫🇷 As a side-note concerning Pavel Durov's detention ( Garde a vue ) in France.
It is of public knowledge that detention conditions in France are very bad : no hygiene, difficulties in accessing toilet so people end up peeing in their cell which is not cleaned for every next person put under arrest.No food or very little and sandwich type, often no water for hours.Overcrowded cells, general noisy environment even if we can presume he has been given some form of "special treatment". . Not much if any sleep is possible in these conditions.
These abysmal conditions have been denounced for decades by human rights organisations even at a European level for not respecting human dignity, and basic human rights.
This is designed to break the person, create shock and dehumanize ..
#PavelDurov #Telegram #FreeDurov #France #GAV
It is of public knowledge that detention conditions in France are very bad : no hygiene, difficulties in accessing toilet so people end up peeing in their cell which is not cleaned for every next person put under arrest.No food or very little and sandwich type, often no water for hours.Overcrowded cells, general noisy environment even if we can presume he has been given some form of "special treatment". . Not much if any sleep is possible in these conditions.
These abysmal conditions have been denounced for decades by human rights organisations even at a European level for not respecting human dignity, and basic human rights.
This is designed to break the person, create shock and dehumanize ..
#PavelDurov #Telegram #FreeDurov #France #GAV
Forwarded from Laura Ru (Laura Ru)
After so many attention-seeking "influencers/analysts" falsely claimed that the arrest of Telegram's CEO Pavel Durov would enable NATO to get access to "Russian military secrets", the Kremlin's spokesperson Dmitry Peskov had to state the obvious:
So, if privately-owned messengers such as Telegram are deemed "unreliable" by the Kremlin, do you think the Russian Army would rely on them? @LauraRuHK
The Kremlin does not use messengers for official purposes.
No messenger is reliable from the point of view of information security, including Telegram
So, if privately-owned messengers such as Telegram are deemed "unreliable" by the Kremlin, do you think the Russian Army would rely on them? @LauraRuHK
🇫🇷 In February of 2024, the French Criminal Code was amended and a new article was introduced which prosecutes owners of online service providers :
Article 323-3-2 creates liability for "a person whose activity consists of providing an online platform service" who is "knowingly allowing the transfer of products, content or services whose transfer, offer, acquisition or possession is manifestly illicit".
If they are found guilty, this is punishable by five years of imprisonment and a fine of 150,000 ($167,000) euros. If they carry out this offence as part of a 'criminal gang', they can be imprisoned for 10 years and fined 500,000 euros ($557,000).
The charges seem to reference this article directly. Durov is accused of "web-mastering an online platform in order to enable an illegal transaction in [an] organized group" (the latter is perhaps a reference to Telegram's employees, who might be regarded as co-conspirators).
Another charge refers to "criminal association with a view to committing a crime or an offense punishable by 5 or more years of imprisonment," which matches the punishments set out in Article 323-3-2.
Under Article 323-3-2, he faces liability for "offering, through an online platform provider or in support of transactions that they enable, intermediation or escrow services whose sole or main purpose is to implement, conceal or facilitate the operation" of illicit content.
Article 323-3-2 was likely created to deal with illegal dark web marketplaces like Silk Road, whose admin Ross Ulbricht was sentenced to life in a US prison 11 years ago. Certain features of Telegram, like the anonymised private channels, could be seen as rather similar.
"Refusal to communicate, at the request of competent authorities, information or documents necessary for carrying out and operating interceptions allowed by law."
The basis of the case is likely that law enforcement organisations have been reporting illegal content – notification will have made Telegram "knowingly" aware of what it is hosting – but have been getting slow or non-responses from the company.
The European Commission has already found Twitter/X to be in breach of the EU's Digital Services Act. This is likely to lead to billion-euro fines, but the Durov case suggests that Elon Musk also needs to think carefully about travelling to Europe, and especially France.
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1828156715767898550.html
@CIG_telegram is making reference to :
Article 323-3-2 - Code pénal - Légifrance
https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/article_lc/LEGIARTI000047047989/2023-09-11
#PavelDurov #Telegram
Article 323-3-2 creates liability for "a person whose activity consists of providing an online platform service" who is "knowingly allowing the transfer of products, content or services whose transfer, offer, acquisition or possession is manifestly illicit".
If they are found guilty, this is punishable by five years of imprisonment and a fine of 150,000 ($167,000) euros. If they carry out this offence as part of a 'criminal gang', they can be imprisoned for 10 years and fined 500,000 euros ($557,000).
The charges seem to reference this article directly. Durov is accused of "web-mastering an online platform in order to enable an illegal transaction in [an] organized group" (the latter is perhaps a reference to Telegram's employees, who might be regarded as co-conspirators).
Another charge refers to "criminal association with a view to committing a crime or an offense punishable by 5 or more years of imprisonment," which matches the punishments set out in Article 323-3-2.
Under Article 323-3-2, he faces liability for "offering, through an online platform provider or in support of transactions that they enable, intermediation or escrow services whose sole or main purpose is to implement, conceal or facilitate the operation" of illicit content.
Article 323-3-2 was likely created to deal with illegal dark web marketplaces like Silk Road, whose admin Ross Ulbricht was sentenced to life in a US prison 11 years ago. Certain features of Telegram, like the anonymised private channels, could be seen as rather similar.
"Refusal to communicate, at the request of competent authorities, information or documents necessary for carrying out and operating interceptions allowed by law."
The basis of the case is likely that law enforcement organisations have been reporting illegal content – notification will have made Telegram "knowingly" aware of what it is hosting – but have been getting slow or non-responses from the company.
The European Commission has already found Twitter/X to be in breach of the EU's Digital Services Act. This is likely to lead to billion-euro fines, but the Durov case suggests that Elon Musk also needs to think carefully about travelling to Europe, and especially France.
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1828156715767898550.html
@CIG_telegram is making reference to :
Article 323-3-2 - Code pénal - Légifrance
https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/article_lc/LEGIARTI000047047989/2023-09-11
#PavelDurov #Telegram
Threadreaderapp
Thread by @ChrisO_wiki on Thread Reader App
@ChrisO_wiki: 1/ One interesting aspect of the charges against Pavel Durov is the role that's likely to be played by Article 323-3-2 of France's Criminal Code, which only went into force in February 2024. Elon Musk...…
Forwarded from TON Community
Today, TON Society launches a first of its kind initiative to urge France to #FREEDUROV
An Open Letter Mini App in Telegram.
Anyone who values privacy and freedom of speech should sign this letter to French authorities. We hope to reach hundreds of millions of signatures.
We urge the French authorities to:
1️⃣ Free Mr. Pavel Durov from detention.
2️⃣ Allow Telegram to protect the freedom of expression and right to private life for its users.
The #DigitalResistance is now. #FREEDUROV.
As always, share this post using #FREEDUROV, and now sign the Open Letter in Telegram.
🆓🐶 https://t.me/tgresistancebot/letter
An Open Letter Mini App in Telegram.
Anyone who values privacy and freedom of speech should sign this letter to French authorities. We hope to reach hundreds of millions of signatures.
We urge the French authorities to:
1️⃣ Free Mr. Pavel Durov from detention.
2️⃣ Allow Telegram to protect the freedom of expression and right to private life for its users.
The #DigitalResistance is now. #FREEDUROV.
As always, share this post using #FREEDUROV, and now sign the Open Letter in Telegram.
🆓
Please open Telegram to view this post
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
Telegram
Digital Resistance
We strongly condemn the arrest of Mr. Pavel Durov by the French authorities, a blatant attack on the freedom of expression and the right to private life.
Forwarded from Geopolitics Prime
France cannot refuse Durov consular assistance from Russia, despite his dual citizenship, French lawyer David Libeskind told Sputnik.
👍 Boost us! | Subscribe to @geopolitics_live
"Dual citizenship is a privilege, as it entitles you to additional consular assistance," Libeskind said.
Please open Telegram to view this post
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
Forwarded from #TBOT: Take Back Our Tech
Media is too big
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
⚡️Telegram CEO's Arrest, Is Telegram Still Safe?
@takebackourtech
My deep dive video into Telegram, with a focus on historical context. After the news of Durov's arrest, all signs point to him genuinely protecting user data.
But now that he is in custody, is that user data at risk? Will he be forced to turn it over to the authorities?
Since this is my first deep dive video, please let me know what you think of the format in the comments below!
—
✌️ MORE POSTS | 🗯 CHAT GROUP | 📩 NEWSLETTER
Follow 🫶 @takebackourtech
@takebackourtech
My deep dive video into Telegram, with a focus on historical context. After the news of Durov's arrest, all signs point to him genuinely protecting user data.
But now that he is in custody, is that user data at risk? Will he be forced to turn it over to the authorities?
Since this is my first deep dive video, please let me know what you think of the format in the comments below!
—
✌️ MORE POSTS | 🗯 CHAT GROUP | 📩 NEWSLETTER
Follow 🫶 @takebackourtech
Forwarded from Geopolitics Prime
The more the surveillance state tightens its grip, the more people wind up slipping through its fingers. Since Telegram CEO Pavel Durov’s arrest in France, interest in his social media and messenger service has skyrocketed, becoming the second-most downloaded app on the App Store in the US, and the most downloaded App Store app in France in the social media category. Here’s who’s using the messenger, and why it’s so popular.
How many users does Telegram have?
The app has more than quadrupled its user base over the past five years.
Where is Telegram most popular?
Who uses Telegram and why?
Please open Telegram to view this post
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
Following the Russian government's communication yesterday , informing that the sequestration of @durov by France did not endanger the confidentiality of communications on Telegram, the Russian spy service headed by Naryshkin, informs through the latter's voice, that @durov is not in a position to give "the keys to Telegram" or any other sensitive information to the West .
https://t.me/bbbreaking/188864
(Contrary to what some Russian Sunday bureaucrats say.)
👉 France may get limited access and greater control over the French-European segment of Telegram/TON, we will see it in the future, like several other countries, in exchange for a number of concessions from French bureaucrats (including perhaps the release or reduction of sentence of @durov and/or the non-blocking of Telegram/TON in France and the EU), but apart from these assumptions , Russia seems particularly serene in the reliability of Telegram/TON as far as it is concerned (and not necessarily as far as non-Russian users are concerned 😉).
@ZZ_0Z_Z0ZZ_fr
https://t.me/bbbreaking/188864
(Contrary to what some Russian Sunday bureaucrats say.)
👉 France may get limited access and greater control over the French-European segment of Telegram/TON, we will see it in the future, like several other countries, in exchange for a number of concessions from French bureaucrats (including perhaps the release or reduction of sentence of @durov and/or the non-blocking of Telegram/TON in France and the EU), but apart from these assumptions , Russia seems particularly serene in the reliability of Telegram/TON as far as it is concerned (and not necessarily as far as non-Russian users are concerned 😉).
@ZZ_0Z_Z0ZZ_fr
Telegram
Раньше всех. Ну почти.
⚡️Директор Службы внешней разведки РФ Нарышкин полагает, что Дуров не раскроет западу чувствительную информацию