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> "Users near you" functionality is sorely needed in online spaces, considering how much interaction has moved online. Funny this got mentioned as France just

• moi2388 2y ago
  That might have been cited as the reason, but I think we all know the real reason is that France is fighting against Russian troops in their former African colonies, and Russian troops mainly use Telegram for their communications.
  • older 2y ago
    Who are those "we" you're talking about?
    • moi2388 2y ago
      Anybody aware of what’s happening in Africa between France, Russia and Wagner
      • older 2y ago
        Is it some kind of secret bunch of people who know this?
        • t-3 2y ago
          The secret bunch who pay attention to Africa. It's not exactly shouted from the rooftops in western countries as public opinion is not quite as favorable towards colonialism and patronage as they were 100+ years ago.
          • older 2y ago
            I'm more interested to know how this secret bunch of people links all that to arrest of Telegram's CEO (who is a French citizen) in France. Sounds like a regular conspiracy theory and claims like "we all know..." just give more of the same conspiracy vibe.
            • t-3 2y ago
              Yeah, I highly doubt Russian soldiers/mercenaries using Telegram is the main reason France went after Durov, but the conflicts and influence wars between Russia and colonialist powers in Africa is well-known and has been happening for a while.
              • older 2y ago
                Do you consider the Tuareg a "colonialist power" in Africa? Because that's who russia is fighting in Africa: https://apnews.com/article/mali-tuareg-violence-c0b85f6ab284b5d22268605a88a6d034 https://apnews.com/article/mali-tuareg-violence-c0b85f6ab284...
                • t-3 2y ago
                  That's who Wagner is fighting in Mali right now, but the French were in Mali until 2 years ago. Wagner is also active in many other African countries other than Mali: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wagner_Group_activities_in_Africa https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wagner_Group_activities_in_Afr... Russia is also providing economic and political support to many African governments, especially those who have turned away from the west and are afraid of regime-change operations.
                  • foldr 2y ago
                    The French left Mali before Wagner arrived.
              • aguaviva 2y ago
                The conflicts and influence wars between Russia and colonialist powers in Africa is well-known and has been happening for a while. That the conflicts are well-known and have been happening for a while is quite true of course. But this bizarre framing of these conflicts as "between Russia and colonialist powers" (as if Russia was not also a colonial power, or its influence games in Africa were any different from those of the Western powers) is just propaganda, and rather trite propaganda at that.
  • broken-kebab 2y ago
    The last part doesn't sound very convincing. Russian mercenaries are not glued to Telegram, and can quickly switch to Signal if needed. I think "we all know" that real reason maybe more related to French gov't being a bit more direct about their wish to have a hand inside popular messengers.
  • foldr 2y ago
    > France is fighting against Russian troops in their former African colonies France and Russia are at war now? Wagner mercenaries moved into Mali after French troops withdrew from it. That's hardly the same thing as French soldiers 'fighting' Russian soldiers.
    • moi2388 2y ago
      There have been some skirmishes, but mainly it’s a Cold War for influence. France got kicked out and replaced by Wagner for example. France actually does take their control over their former colonies rather seriously. Perhaps my previous statement was a bit too bold. Let’s just say I would be very surprised if this wasn’t a factor in their decision to now prosecute the owner of Telegram.
      • foldr 2y ago
        >There have been some skirmishes, Source for this? Skirmishes between French soldiers and Wagner mercenaries?
• saagarjha 2y ago
  It’s one thing to list yourself as being in Atlanta and quite another to basically publish your exact location.