When Tech Giants Become Legal Targets: The New Reality

If your platform hosts illegal content, should you be the one wearing handcuffs?

As scrutiny intensifies on tech platforms, a new precedent may be emerging: tech executives could soon be held personally responsible for illegal activities on their platforms. The recent arrest of Pavel Durov, Telegram's founder, in France over alleged crimes facilitated through his platform, highlights this shift.

Traditionally, companies, not individuals, faced liability. However, with growing concerns about child safety and other illegal activities, regulators and policymakers are increasingly targeting executives directly.

Durov’s arrest raises questions for leaders like Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk — could they be next? While laws like the U.S. Section 230 currently protect platforms from liability for user content, the situation is changing, especially in Europe.

Personally, I do believe that tech leaders should be held accountable for the damages they cause to society; not everything should be allowed in the relentless pursuit of shareholder value. However, the same would apply to financial leaders, and we all know that after the 2008 financial crisis, no banking leader was held accountable...

As the lines blur between corporate and personal responsibility, tech leaders must consider: is the risk of jail time worth their platform's freedom?

Read the full article on New York Times.

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