- Pavel Durov, founder of Telegram, refused a request from a European government to censor political content before Romania’s May 18 presidential elections.
- Durov indicated that the request was to remove conservative voices, which he publicly rejected, emphasizing freedom of speech.
- Durov was arrested in France in August 2024, leading to criticism from free speech advocates and the crypto community.
- French President Emmanuel Macron denied political motives behind the arrest, stating a commitment to freedom of expression.
- Durov stated that Telegram follows legal information requests but criticized French authorities for bypassing legal channels.
Telegram founder Pavel Durov stated he turned down pressure from a Western European government to censor political content on his platform before the Romanian presidential elections on May 18, 2024. Durov said the government’s request targeted conservative voices, but he refused, stressing the need for free speech and fair elections in Romania.
In a post on Telegram, Durov wrote, “You can’t ‘defend democracy’ by destroying democracy. You can’t ‘fight election interference’ by interfering with elections. You either have freedom of speech and fair elections — or you don’t. And the Romanian people deserve both.” Durov is recognized in the crypto community for supporting privacy, autonomy, and individual rights on his platform.
The situation drew more attention after Durov’s arrest in France in August 2024. His detention led to widespread criticism, especially from the crypto sector and free speech defenders. Some called the arrest a politically motivated move by French authorities. French President Emmanuel Macron denied any political involvement in the arrest, saying in an online post that the French government is “committed to freedom of expression and communication.”
Helius Labs CEO Mert Mumtaz responded to Macron, saying that keeping company founders personally liable for not moderating speech contradicts a true commitment to free expression. Shortly after Durov’s arrest, Chris Pavlovski, CEO of the Rumble video platform, announced his own exit from the European Union, citing threats from France against Rumble.
Durov noted that Telegram complies with legal requests from law enforcement through its legal representative in France. However, he criticized French authorities for not following this process and instead issuing an arrest warrant directly against him.
Further debate continues in the crypto community, with legal experts discussing whether Durov’s actions were criminal.
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