Telegram CEO Accuses French Intelligence of Election Meddling Request
Pavel Durov, CEO of encrypted messaging platform Telegram, alleges that France’s foreign intelligence service pressured him to ban conservative Romanian political channels ahead of the 2025 presidential election. The request was framed as counterterrorism and child protection measures, which Durov claims were pretexts for political censorship.
French authorities deny interference, maintaining their outreach focused solely on legitimate security concerns. The confrontation highlights escalating tensions between sovereign states and privacy-focused platforms over content moderation and surveillance.