CEO of "Russian Facebook" vkontakte finds out he has been fired through the news, comments that the - Polidicks

[IMG]http://www.themoscowtimes.com/upload/iblock/79f/durov%20vkontakte.jpg[/IMG] [I]Pavel Durov at a promo event[/I] [QUOTE= The Moscow Times]Vkontake founder Pavel Durov has been fired as the social network's CEO, the company said, while Durov added that the move puts the network under the "full control" of Kremlin insiders. Durov, who said he had resisted months of increasing pressure from the Federal Security Service, or FSB, to release personal information about opposition activists who use Russia's most popular social network, said he that learned about his dismissal from media reports. "It is interesting that shareholders did not have the courage to do it directly," he said on his Vkontakte page on Monday night. Vkontakte said in a statement a few hours earlier that it had acted on a resignation letter that Durov submitted on March 21 and supposedly failed to properly withdraw before a one-month deadline had expired, Interfax reported. On April 1, Durov announced on his Vkontakte page that he was stepping down as the company's CEO before revealing two days later, on April 3, that the announcement was an April Fool's prank. The social network will now fall under the "full control" of Kremlin-linked Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin, and Vkontakte billionaire shareholder Alisher Usmanov, Durov said. "Something like this was probably inevitable in Russia, but I am glad that we held on for seven and a half years," Durov said on his Vkontakte page. "We managed to do a lot. And part of what has been accomplished can no longer be turned back."[/QUOTE] read the full article at [URL="http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/vkontakte-founder-pavel-durov-learns-hes-been-fired-through-media/498641.html"]The Moscow Times[/URL] I tried to find an article on NPR since they were doing a news report of it on the radio that had more info. this also show that the climate for Social media users, journalists, and activists is becoming increasingly hostile.

RIP VKontakte, you were truly the master race social network

[QUOTE=Laserbeams;44616355]RIP VKontakte, you were truly the master race social network[/QUOTE] I know. That built in music network is [i]sick[/i]

They used an april fool's prank as a loophole to fire him behind his back? that's just cold, yo.

[quote] The social network will now fall under the "full control" of Kremlin-linked Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin, and Vkontakte billionaire shareholder Alisher Usmanov, Durov said.[/quote]That sounds bad.

I thought a CEO/found of something wasn't able to be fired only if he wanted it himself. ???

Yeah typically, but there are exceptions, like Men's Wearhouse. Also this is Russia.

[QUOTE=ZyreHD;44616476]I thought a CEO/found of something wasn't able to be fired only if he wanted it himself. ???[/QUOTE] No, the CEO is more or less the frontman, not necessarily the founder. Also, it depends on the country but the CEO typically reports to a board of directors and they can vote to fire him.

[QUOTE=ZyreHD;44616476]I thought a CEO/found of something wasn't able to be fired only if he wanted it himself. ???[/QUOTE] I have a feeling this wasn't purely a business decision...

[QUOTE=ZyreHD;44616476]I thought a CEO/found of something wasn't able to be fired only if he wanted it himself. ???[/QUOTE] The CEO is responsible for the direction the company goes, there's usually a board of directors or owner(s) who appoint the CEO and can fire them for whatever reason.

wait what the shit? [quote]Vkontakte said in a statement a few hours earlier that it had acted on a resignation letter that Durov submitted on March 21 and supposedly failed to properly withdraw before a one-month deadline had expired, Interfax reported. On April 1, Durov announced on his Vkontakte page that he was stepping down as the company's CEO before revealing two days later, on April 3, that the announcement was an April Fool's prank.[/quote] So he resigned, then said it was a joke, but then it turned out he had sent an actual letter, and THEN it turned out they booted him even when he said it was a joke??? This is three different kinds of weird and confusing, somebody was severely retarded there

[QUOTE=Awesomecaek;44616728]wait what the shit? So he resigned, then said it was a joke, but then it turned out he had sent an actual letter, and THEN it turned out they booted him even when he said it was a joke??? This is three different kinds of weird and confusing, somebody was severely retarded there[/QUOTE] [QUOTE]resisted months of increasing pressure from the Federal Security Service, or FSB, to release personal information about opposition activists[/QUOTE] There's nothing weird about it. The Russian government has handed his business to one of it's rich political contributors to tighten control on social media. They saw his april fools joke and saw a perfect opportunity to take him out of the picture.

I really preferred using VK to facebook actually. Shame it'll probably change, though I'm not sure what. [IMG]http://vk.com/images/stickers/104/128.png[/IMG] It was also nice that it was really neutral. I hope the Euronews page doesn't go away.

[QUOTE=trotskygrad;44616843]I really preferred using VK to facebook actually. Shame it'll probably change, though I'm not sure what. [IMG]http://vk.com/images/stickers/104/128.png[/IMG] It was also nice that it was really neutral. I hope the Euronews page doesn't go away.[/QUOTE] It'll probably stay the same except now with more censorship and the FSB will have access to every single bit of private information on it.

[QUOTE=Mr. Someguy;44616948]It'll probably stay the same except now with more censorship and the FSB will have access to every single bit of private information on it.[/QUOTE] I'd expect the larger ukrainian propaganda groups to be shut down tbh.

[QUOTE=trotskygrad;44616963]I'd expect the larger ukrainian propaganda groups to be shut down tbh.[/QUOTE] Not just propaganda, but anything slightly Pro-Ukrainian or that doesn't fit with the Kremlin's bottom line. Or alternatively, they'll let it stay up and FSB will find out who's posting and take care of them more directly.

[QUOTE=Mr. Someguy;44616981]Not just propaganda, but anything slightly Pro-Ukrainian or that doesn't fit with the Kremlin's bottom line. Or alternatively, they'll let it stay up and FSB will find out who's posting and take care of them more directly.[/QUOTE] they'd have to censor a shitload of their userbase then. It'll probably only affect the larger pages. "December 13, 2013 FSB demanded from us to give personal data organizers Evromaydana groups. Our response has been and remains a categorical refusal - Russian jurisdiction does not extend to Ukrainian users VKontakte. Give personal details Ukrainians Russian authorities would not only be against the law, but also a betrayal of all those millions of people in Ukraine who have trusted us. During I had to sacrifice a lot. In particular, I sold my share of VKontakte, since its presence would prevent me make the right decisions. But I do not regret anything - protection of personal data of people worth it and much more. Since December 2013 I have owned, but I still had something more important - a clean conscience and ideals that I am willing to defend." Durov really was a cool guy...

I dunno, seems optimistic. I don't think the Government would just seize it like that (after their requests were denied) and then not do anything with it. I think they seized it to give themselves free reign, no more denied requests, just information on opposition forces.

I have no doubts that the Russian government will use this move to further silence or eliminate dissidents. People's lives are in danger.

nooo, VK is my primary source for gay porn

[QUOTE=Mr. Someguy;44617044]I dunno, seems optimistic. I don't think the Government would just seize it like that (after their requests were denied) and then not do anything with it. I think they seized it to give themselves free reign, no more denied requests, just information on opposition forces.[/QUOTE] yeah but what you said in your post was that they'd censor everything pro-Ukrainian. This is as massive of an undertaking as censoring everyone on facebook who says #fuckUSA or posts batshit crazy political statuses: eg, it's not going to happen, it's a waste of resources. They'll use it to gather information on dissidents for sure.

Sure seems like Russia's on route to become Nazi Germany: Communism Edition.

[QUOTE=Reshy;44618698]Sure seems like Russia's on route to become Nazi Germany: Communism Edition.[/QUOTE] without the communism, since there isn't anything communist about russia anymore :v: , also i guess it makes sense when one remembers russia has the largest concentration of neo-nazis in the planet, for some insane reason.

[QUOTE=Reshy;44618698]Sure seems like Russia's on route to become Nazi Germany: Communism Edition.[/QUOTE] You mean the USSR v2?

[QUOTE=Wizards Court;44618715]russia has the largest concentration of neo-nazis in the planet, for some insane reason.[/QUOTE] Because they're young, clueless, uneducated, and got nothing better to do than to act like fascist jackasses.

not to mention the poverty that many of them have coupled with a resentment of wealthy foreigners.

[QUOTE=TheKingofBees;44620209]not to mention the poverty that many of them have coupled with a resentment of wealthy foreigners.[/QUOTE] yeah I'd figure it's a lot like the gangs in the inner cities here in the US. These kids have limited positive influence, if any, and are just ripe to be picked up by the first cause that speaks their language and offers some kind of community.

Plus Russia is very nationalist, they practically teach nationalism in schools. Neo-Nazis thrive in that environment.

I live in a small town, 30+ thousand people or so. I was never taught any nationalism at school. Maybe that depends on the textbook course, because there is like a dozen different textbooks by different authors for every subject. In my history and sociology textbooks, they went as far as bashing Stalin's reign, which came really unexpected. The youth here have this very distorted image of an immigrant. They call them "чурки" or "хачи", diminishing different peoples of Caucasus and Siberia to a single group that they see as uneducated, dumb beasts. Same with gays ("педики" and "пидоры") and even ukrainians ("салоеды"). It doesn't come from the government or education, it comes from other people, social networks, teenage angst and actions of vocal minorities of those groups. Some people stick with those ideas because it's easy to just go along with hate instead of reinventing your world views.

Those girls are so fittttt