Telegram's negative sentiments in Asia increase nearly ten times after founder's arrest

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Telegram's negative sentiments in Asia have increased by nearly ten times, from 2.4% to 23.7% after its founder, Pavel Durov, was arrested in connection with an investigation into criminal activity on the app, according to media intelligence firm CARMA.

Positive sentiments in Asia on the other hand dropped to 23.7% after the arrest, said CARMA.

Don't miss: Why Telegram's CEO Pavel Durov was arrested in France

Durov’s arrest raised concerns about the security of Telegram and the implications for users. The situation also fueled debates on free speech and political motivations behind the arrest.

According to CARMA, there are a total of 162.3k mentions in Asia about Telegram CEO Pavel Durov’s arrest currently. This makes up 9.55% of all conversations about Durov’s arrest.

A sentiment analysis of social conversations surrounding the arrest showed 25% positive and 31% negative.

Many are expressing their support for Pavel Durov and Telegram, such as defending freedom of speech and privacy rights, or advocating for his release.

Others are discussing local stories of deepfakes being circulated, and similar incidents of assaults with Telegram being the primary platform used by perpetrators.

Across North and Southeast Asia, Indonesia leads the conversation by share of voice with 30.2% followed by Japan at 24.3%. Malaysia sits at 6% while Singapore is at 3.6%, said CARMA.

"The arrest of the CEO of Telegram highlights the critical importance of executive visibility. In times of crisis, a leader's public image can profoundly impact a brand's reputation and future," said Divika Jethmal, head of marketing, CARMA.

"With Durov under scrutiny for serious charges, how the media reports on the incident can alter the public perception of Telegram,” added Jethmal.

What happened?

Durov was arrested at Le Bourget airport near Paris on Saturday (24 August) following a judicial investigation that was opened on 8 July 2024.

The investigation was opened on charges of web-mastering an online platform to enable an illegal transaction in an organised group, refusal to communicate at the request of authorities and complicity in the distribution of child pornography, selling of drugs and money laundering amongst others.

In a statement seen by MARKETING-INTERACTIVE, prosecutor Laure Beccuau said that it is within the procedural framework that Durov was questioned by investigators.

Durov's arrest has since become a point of debate about free speech on the internet. French president Emmanuael Macron dismissed false accusations from Telegram supporters saying, "The arrest of the president of Telegram on French soil took place as part of an ongoing judicial investigation. It is in no way a political decision. It is up to the judges to rule on the matter."

"France is deeply committed to freedom of expression and communication, to innovation, and to the spirit of entrepreneurship. It will remain so," said Macron.

"In a state governed by the rule of law, freedoms are upheld within a legal framework, both on social media and in real life, to protect citizens and respect their fundamental rights," he added.

Macron also said that it is up to the judiciary, in full independence, to enforce the law.

Following Durov's arrest, Telegram has since put out a statement on X saying that it abides by EU law, including the digital services act. It added that its moderation is within industry standards and is constantly improving.

"Telegram's CEO Pavel Durov has nothing to hide and travels frequently in Europe. It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform," said Telegram.

"Almost a billion users globally use Telegram as a means of communication and as a source of vital information. We’re awaiting a prompt resolution of this situation. Telegram is with you all," it added.

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