The Open Network (TON) Society released a statement on March 15 celebrating the return of Pavel Durov’s passport as a win for freedom of speech, online privacy, and innovation.

According to the AFP news agency, Durov left France and headed to Dubai on the morning of March 15 after gaining permission from French officials to depart the European country.

“We have stood behind Pavel since his arrest on August 24, 2024,” the TON Society wrote. The group added:

“Pavel’s unwavering commitment to freedom of speech and transparency, despite facing the most challenging of circumstances, is a powerful reminder of the importance of standing by your principles, even when it is politically and personally detrimental to do so.”

The TON Society previously penned a letter condemning the French government for detaining Durov and urging the country to release the Telegram founder.

“The arrest of the Telegram founder, Pavel Durov, is a direct assault on a basic human right — the freedom of expression of everyone,” the TON Society’s Aug. 27 letter read.

At the time, the organization also called on the United Nations, the Council of Europe (CoE), the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and the European Union (EU) to intervene and push for Durov’s release.

Free speech advocates in the crypto industry sounded the alarm over Pavel Durov’s arrest, citing the troubling implications for privacy and decentralized technologies in the face of state pressure to censor the internet and the potential for regulatory capture.

Emmanuel Macron denies political motivation for Durov’s arrest

Shortly after French law enforcement officials detained the Telegram founder, President Emmanuel Macron denied the arrest was politically motivated and claimed that France was committed to free speech.

In a subsequent press conference, Macron also denied inviting Durov to France amid a torrent of backlash from the crypto community and free speech advocates.

Chris Pavlovski, the CEO of the free-speech video platform Rumble, announced that he safely departed Europe shortly following the detention of Pavel Durov.

In an Aug. 25 X post, the CEO said that the French government threatened Rumble and condemned state authorities for the crackdown on free speech.

Magazine: Did Telegram’s Pavel Durov commit a crime? Crypto lawyers weigh in

]]> https://earlybirdsinvest.com/ton-society-celebrates-pavel-durov-leaving-france-as-free-speech-win/feed/ 0 25318 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/midnight-society-game-studio-closes-amid-financial-struggles/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/midnight-society-game-studio-closes-amid-financial-struggles/#respond Fri, 07 Feb 2025 17:06:17 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/midnight-society-game-studio-closes-amid-financial-struggles/

Midnight Society, the studio behind the game Deadrop, has confirmed its closure after facing financial difficulties and internal turmoil.

The announcement came just days after employees were given a two-day notice that the company was shutting down. This closure follows the high-profile departure of co-founder Dr. Disrespect (Guy Beahm) in mid-2024 after allegations of inappropriate conduct.

Although the studio had initially expressed confidence about continuing development and releasing Deadrop in 2025, the lack of funding and staff cuts ultimately led to its closure.

Why is Midnight Society closing down?

Midnight Society’s closure is largely attributed to a lack of funding. The studio, which employed over 50 developers at its peak, struggled to secure sufficient resources to continue operations. In a post shared on X, Level Designer Brad Boice revealed that the team was given just two days’ notice before the shutdown.

Earlier statements from co-founder Quinn Delhoyo had suggested that Deadrop was on track for a 2025 release, but staff reductions in September 2024 and the inability to secure more funding signaled deeper financial instability. Despite these challenges, the studio continued to work on the game until this recent closure announcement.

The studio’s troubles were further compounded by the departure of Dr. Disrespect, who had been a key figure in promoting Deadrop. Beahm was dismissed from Midnight Society in June 2024 after allegations surfaced that he had inappropriate conversations with a minor. Although Beahm admitted to some of the claims, he later denied other allegations and revised his statements, which fueled controversy around his exit.

The studio initially claimed that his departure was amicable, but it quickly became clear that his removal had disrupted both the studio’s internal dynamics and its public image.

What’s next to Deadrop?

Many believed that the game’s future was uncertain without Beahm’s involvement, and the subsequent closure of the studio has only reinforced these doubts.

In the wake of the closure, Dr. Disrespect expressed frustration during a livestream, claiming that the situation had been poorly handled by the studio’s leadership and that the allegations against him were mishandled.

The end of Midnight Society has left Deadrop’s future unclear, with no indications yet as to whether the game will continue under new leadership or if it will be abandoned altogether.