French Court Blocks Telegram Founder’s Travel Amid Censorship Dispute
A French court has barred Pavel Durov, co-founder of Telegram, from attending the Oslo Freedom Forum in Norway. The Human Rights Foundation confirmed his keynote will now be delivered via livestream. This decision follows escalating tensions between Durov and French authorities over content moderation demands.
The dispute centers on France’s request for Telegram to censor political content related to Romania’s elections—a demand Durov publicly refused. He identified Nicolas Lerner, head of French intelligence, as the official behind the order, framing it as government overreach. The travel restriction marks the latest development in Durov’s ongoing legal challenges within French jurisdiction.