Pavel Durov Roasts France’s Telegram Crackdown: ’Damaging National Reputation’ in Crypto Sphere

Telegram founder Pavel Durov isn't holding back—calling out French authorities for their heavy-handed approach to the messaging platform's regulatory case.

Durov's blistering critique suggests France's aggressive stance could backfire spectacularly. Instead of protecting consumers, he argues, the move paints the nation as hostile to innovation—just when European crypto hubs are competing for talent and investment.

Timing couldn't be worse. With MiCA regulations rolling out and digital asset adoption accelerating, France's reputation takes a hit. Durov implies the country risks becoming a cautionary tale—the jurisdiction that chose bureaucracy over blockchain progress.

Meanwhile, crypto builders are voting with their feet. They're opting for clearer frameworks and friendlier regulators. Because nothing says 'liberté' like chasing innovation straight out of the country.

In brief

• One year after his arrest, Pavel Durov says French authorities have found no evidence of wrongdoing.
• He must still return to France every 14 days; no appeal date has been set.
• Durov denied claims of providing authorities backdoor access to private Telegram messages.

Durov Rejects Responsibility for Telegram Users’ Actions

Durov was detained by French police for four days at the time of his arrest last year. On August 24, he said the detention was unjust, as it was linked to crimes carried out by individuals who used Telegram, even though he had no connection to them.

He argued that it is unreasonable to hold a platform’s chief executive accountable for actions committed by unrelated users, noting that such responsibility has neither legal nor logical basis.

A year after his detention, Durov must still return to France every 14 days, with no appeal date scheduled. He said that, so far, the only result of his arrest has been serious damage to France’s image as a free country.

One year after this strange arrest, I still have to return to France every 14 days, with no appeal date in sight. Sadly, the only outcome of my arrest so far has been massive damage to France’s image as a free country.

How Telegram Handles Harmful Material

The French investigation focused on Telegram’s content moderation practices. Authorities charged Durov and, at the start of the investigation, prevented him from leaving France while they examined how the platform handled harmful material. Law enforcement accused Telegram of hosting damaging content and failing to address it adequately.

Durov responded last year by stressing that the company does remove such material. In a defense statement released in September 2024, he outlined Telegram’s actions, noting that millions of harmful posts and channels are taken down daily.

He explained that the platform also publishes daily transparency reports to show what has been removed. To further support moderation, he said Telegram maintains direct hotlines with non-governmental organizations, allowing urgent requests to be handled quickly.

In his latest update on the case, Durov emphasized that Telegram has complied with every legally binding request from France. He maintained that the company’s moderation practices are consistent with industry standards.

Official Reaction and Platform Defense

French President Emmanuel Macron commented on the case shortly after Durov’s arrest. Macron maintained that the arrest was not political. He described it as a matter of law and public safety. His remarks, however, drew criticism, with some accusing France of censorship and of undermining digital freedoms.

Meanwhile, Durov accused the French authorities of mishandling the case. He said that before August 2024, they had ignored both French and European Union procedures for contacting Telegram and had failed to submit their requests properly. He added that they could have learned the correct procedure with a simple online search or by asking.

The post also prompted a user to suggest that Telegram had given French authorities secret access to its systems. Durov firmly denied the claim, explaining that there is no backdoor in Telegram and that no third party can access private messages on the platform. He emphasized that such access WOULD never be allowed.

Earlier, in June, Durov expressed his frustration with the arrest, saying he was still seeking answers and felt that French investigators seemed primarily focused on the basic operation of his platform rather than any wrongdoing.

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