- French officials allegedly offered judicial favours in exchange for Telegram censorship in Moldova.
- Telegram resisted politically motivated takedowns, insisting channels complied with platform rules.
- Durov’s claims add to concerns over censorship, privacy, and electoral interference.
Telegram founder Pavel Durov has accused French intelligence of attempting to pressure him into removing Moldovan political content from the platform during the country’s 2024 election. He said the request was tied to his ongoing legal case in France, with officials allegedly offering favourable remarks to a judge in exchange for compliance.
According to Durov, Telegram initially removed posts that violated the platform’s rules but rejected further demands. He explained that the second list of targeted channels was largely made up of accounts that followed Telegram’s guidelines, with their only common trait being that they expressed political views opposed by the French and Moldovan governments.
Durov described the attempt to influence judicial proceedings through political leverage as unacceptable. He reaffirmed that Telegram would not be turned into an instrument of censorship, particularly in the context of elections. His comments, shared on Telegram, have already drawn millions of views.
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Ongoing Clashes Over Privacy and Speech
This is not the first time Durov has raised such concerns. In May 2025, he claimed French intelligence also sought to have Romanian political voices censored, a request he again declined. He argued that suppressing political debate under the banner of defending democracy undermines democratic values themselves.
The allegations come against the backdrop of Durov’s broader conflict with European governments over privacy and free expression. His arrest in France in 2024 sparked criticism from the crypto community and human rights advocates. Since then, he has warned that Telegram would rather withdraw from countries, including France, than compromise on encryption or hand over user data for state surveillance.
These claims add to mounting concerns about state influence, judicial independence, and the growing pressure on online platforms in politically sensitive contexts.
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