Turley Warns: ‘One of the Greatest Threats To Free Speech’ (Video)

Microphone,With,National,Flag,On,Background,Of,Usa.,Free,Speech

(TheLastPatriotNews.com) – In a striking new warning, law professor Jonathan Turley has declared that the arrest of Telegram founder Pavel Durov, a Russian billionaire, in France demonstrates “one of the greatest threats to free speech.”

See the video of Turley’s comments in the tweet below!

French authorities detained Pavel Durov, the affluent founder and CEO of the messaging application, on Saturday, as confirmed by the Russian Embassy in Paris, reported by Bloomberg.

Speaking with Ainsley Earhardt on Fox News, Turley expressed his continued opposition to Durov’s arrest despite allegations that his app, Telegram, had been used for illicit activities.

Prior to introducing Turley, Earhardt highlighted that Durov was expected to appear in court soon.

She also mentioned the growing apprehensions within the European Union regarding the potential suppression of free speech.

During the interview, Earhardt questioned, “So, the authorities say the app was being used for organized crime, drug trafficking, fraud, cyber bullying and promotion of terrorism. Despite all of that, you’re still against his arrest. Why?”

“I am,” Turley responded.

“People need to realize what’s really going on here. We haven’t seen anything akin to a charging sheet, but it appears that he’s being arrested under these European laws that are designed to force social media companies to engage in censorship,” he added.

Turley, a professor at George Washington University Law School, explained to Earhardt that the most notorious law infringing upon free speech in Europe is the Digital Services Act (DSA), which he described as “one of the greatest threats to free speech that we have today around the world.”

He connected this situation to a recent warning from Thierry Brenton, the European Commissioner for International Markets, to Elon Musk.

Brenton cautioned that Musk’s platform X must adhere to the EU’s regulations on digital free speech and misinformation in a letter sent before Musk’s interview with former President Donald Trump on August 12.

Reiterating his point, Turley underscored that the push against free speech is a global issue.

“And this is a global effort to control speech, and so — it’s hard to be sympathetic with some Russian billionaire, right? That’s not exactly somebody that you rally to the park to defend. But he’s being charged with misconduct of others using his site. It’s like arresting AT&T’s CEO because the mob used a telephone to do its business,” the legal expert stated.

“And the question for American citizens is whether we’re going to allow these global censors to basically control speech from Europe. Free speech is in a free fall in Europe. It was no accident when Elon Musk bought Twitter, figures like Hillary Clinton almost immediately went to Europe and called on them to use the DSA. Consider that. To use the DSA to censor American citizens,” Turley explained.