Telegram Founder Durov Barred From Oslo Freedom Forum Amid Censorship Allegations

Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, has been barred from attending the Oslo Freedom Forum in person this year. A French court denied his request to travel to Norway for the rights conference, which is organized by the Human Rights Foundation. The decision comes amid allegations of censorship surrounding Telegram, the popular messaging app co-founded by Durov.

The Oslo Freedom Forum is an annual gathering that brings together human rights activists, journalists, and political dissidents from around the world. It is known for its focus on freedom of speech and human rights, making Durov's exclusion particularly notable. The forum provides a platform for individuals to share their experiences and advocate for change, and Durov's absence will be felt by those who had hoped to engage with him on these critical issues.

Durov, who has long spoken about digital freedom of speech, has been a vocal figure in the crypto and technology space because he refused to succumb to censorship demands from authoritarian regimes. The travel ban follows disputed claims by Durov of being threatened by French spies to censor rightwing voices on Telegram. Durov, in a May 18 telegram post, accused Nicolas Lerner, head of France’s General Directorate for Internal Security, of asking him to ban political voices related to Romania’s upcoming presidential elections. The meeting took place at Paris’s Hôtel de Crillon, where Lerner supposedly requested moderation of speech that was conservative-leaning, stated Durov. “You can’t ‘defend democracy’ by destroying democracy,” Durov replied with rejection of the request. He went on to tweet on X that Telegram would not begin censoring when it rejected demands to do so in Russia, Iran, or Belarus.

Durov reaffirmed Telegram will never succumb to political pressure to censor and would sooner leave a market than sacrifice its very foundations. Calling the request a blatant violation of human rights, Durov maintains freedom of expression must be safeguarded everywhere—not on an ad hoc basis based on politics. The Human Rights Foundation and other digital rights organizations view the travel block as one of many signs of growing tensions between states and technology platforms about information control.

Durov will address the forum remotely by livestream instead. “It’s unfortunate the French courts would disallow Mr. Durov from joining a platform where his voice is so needed,” said the Human Rights Foundation founder and CEO. The allegations of censorship against Telegram stem from the app's handling of content and user data. Critics argue that Telegram has not done enough to combat the spread of misinformation and extremist content on its platform. Additionally, there have been concerns about the app's data privacy practices, with some users expressing worry about how their information is being used and protected.

Durov's exclusion from the Oslo Freedom Forum highlights the complex relationship between technology companies and human rights. While Telegram has been praised for its commitment to privacy and security, it has also faced criticism for its role in facilitating the spread of harmful content. The decision by the French court to bar Durov from attending the forum underscores the importance of holding technology companies accountable for their actions and ensuring that they are not complicit in human rights abuses.

The exclusion of Durov from the Oslo Freedom Forum is a significant development in the ongoing debate about the role of technology companies in promoting or hindering human rights. It remains to be seen how this decision will impact Telegram's reputation and its relationship with users and activists around the world. However, it is clear that the company will need to address the allegations of censorship and take steps to ensure that its platform is not being used to spread harmful content or violate human rights.