Durov: France Exploited Trial to Push Censorship on Telegram

Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov has accused French intelligence services of pressuring the platform to censor content related to Moldova’s 2024 elections in exchange for favorable treatment in his ongoing criminal trial in France. Durov stated in a September 2025 Telegram post that while some channels violating Telegram’s terms of service were removed, the second list of targeted channels—provided by French and Moldovan authorities—were largely compliant with the platform’s rules and only shared for expressing politically unpopular views Cointelegraph: [Pavel Durov Declines To Censor Moldova Election Content on …]^[1]. He emphasized that the request constituted an attempt to interfere in the judicial process or exploit his legal vulnerability to influence Eastern European politics Cryptoninjas: [Telegram's Durov Accused France Tried to Censor Moldovan Politics Channels]^[2].

The incident follows a pattern of alleged state-led censorship attempts. In May 2025, Durov similarly claimed French intelligence had pressured Telegram to remove Romanian election-related content, a demand he also rejected. Durov has repeatedly criticized France’s legal and regulatory approach, arguing that “you cannot 'defend democracy' by destroying democracy” and that state-mandated censorship undermines both free speech and electoral integrity TradingView: [French officials pressured Telegram to censor Moldova election posts: Durov]^[3]. His arrest in August 2024, which drew condemnation from the crypto community and human rights advocates, has intensified his public criticism of France and the European Union.

Telegram’s refusal to comply with such requests aligns with its broader stance against state surveillance. Durov has vowed to exit jurisdictions, including France, rather than compromise user privacy by handing over encryption keys or enabling backdoors for government access. This position has placed the platform at odds with regulatory frameworks like the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which imposes strict content moderation obligations on large platforms. While Telegram is not classified as a “very large online platform” under the DSA due to its relatively smaller EU user base, the broader regulatory environment has raised concerns about the balance between privacy and state control CEPA: [Europe Struggles to Enforce New Free Speech Rules]^[4].

The French government has not publicly commented on Durov’s allegations, though it has previously denied similar claims. In 2024, the country’s foreign intelligence agency (DGSE) refuted accusations of pressuring Telegram to remove Romanian political content. Durov’s claims highlight the growing tension between tech platforms and governments over digital sovereignty, particularly in regions where political polarization is acute. Moldova’s 2024 election, which saw a pro-European government face opposition from pro-Russian factions, became a focal point for such geopolitical tensions Reuters: [Telegram's Durov Says France Asked to Remove Some Moldovan Channels From App]^[5].

The incident also underscores the EU’s struggle to enforce its regulatory agenda. While the DSA aims to hold platforms accountable for harmful content, its implementation has been criticized for enabling one-sided censorship, particularly against conservative voices. Critics argue that the framework’s broad definitions of “harmful content” and penalties for noncompliance—up to 6% of global revenue—create a chilling effect on free expression. Durov’s case has drawn support from digital rights advocates, who warn that state-driven content moderation risks normalizing mass surveillance and eroding trust in encrypted communication European Parliament: [Proposed chat control measures: risks to privacy and encrypted …]^[6].