📢 Telegram’s Stand Against Political Censorship
French intelligence agencies contacted Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov to censor information that could undermine the legitimacy of the 2024 Moldovan elections. The request was reportedly linked to a favor in court, but Durov firmly declined.
In a long post on Sunday, Durov explained via Telegram that after removing posts violating community terms, a second batch of “problematic” Moldovan channels actually complied fully with Telegram’s terms.
“Most of these channels were real and were following our guidelines to the T. The French and Moldovan governments had one thing in common: their disapproval of the opinions of both. We refused to act on this request,” Durov wrote.
🔥 Backlash and Support from the Crypto Community
After Durov was detained in France in August 2024, the crypto community and digital rights activists rallied against government pressure on tech companies to censor content for political reasons.
His position highlights the ongoing conflict between state authorities and privacy-protecting platforms.
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🏛 A History of Government Pressure
This is not an isolated incident. In May 2025, Durov revealed that French intelligence attempted to compel Twitter to censor content relating to elections in Romania. He responded firmly:
“You cannot protect democracy by damaging democracy. You cannot fight interference in elections by interfering with elections. You either enjoy freedom of speech and fair elections, or you do not.”
Durov has repeatedly warned about Europe’s increasing surveillance ambitions. In June 2025, he cautioned that France’s state censorship and privacy violations could threaten social order.
🔒 Telegram’s Commitment to Privacy
Telegram is committed to protecting users, Durov stated. The company is prepared to leave jurisdictions, such as France, rather than degrade encryption or introduce backdoors for surveillance.
Nineteen members of the European Union supported measures in 2025 that would monitor encrypted messages. Durov, along with many privacy advocates, opposed these proposals.
Ongoing clashes between technology platforms and state authorities underscore the challenges of maintaining free speech, privacy, and digital sovereignty in a globalized world.
