TLDR
- Durov states French intelligence pushed for censorship of Moldovan election posts.
- Telegram took down only posts clearly violating its terms of service.
- Durov rejected a second request to remove content over political views.
- The crypto community rallied behind Durov after his 2024 arrest in France.
Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov has claimed that French intelligence services pressured the platform to censor political material tied to Moldova’s 2024 elections. He alleged that officials offered favorable treatment in his trial if he complied, but he declined. His account has emerged as part of a broader dispute between governments and technology platforms over content moderation and electoral integrity.
Requests to Remove Moldovan Channels
According to Durov, Telegram initially took action against posts that violated its internal terms of service. These takedowns targeted material that the platform judged as clearly non-compliant. However, he stated that French officials soon delivered a second request, which listed additional Moldovan channels.
Unlike the first list, most of the flagged accounts did not breach Telegram’s rules, he explained. Instead, he said the channels were linked by their political views, which did not align with the preferences of French and Moldovan authorities. Durov emphasized that the company declined to remove this content because it was not in violation of the platform’s guidelines.
Crypto Community Reaction After Arrest
The claims surfaced against the backdrop of Durov’s arrest in France in August 2024. That incident drew widespread support from both human rights organizations and members of the crypto industry. Analysts noted that the backing highlighted how debates about online expression and government oversight are increasingly intertwined with the digital asset sector.
The industry response framed his legal battle as part of a larger dispute about the role of technology firms in managing political discourse. While the arrest prompted condemnation, it also placed renewed attention on how states interact with platforms during sensitive election periods. This context explains why the censorship requests became a point of contention.
Earlier Pressures Cited by Durov
In May 2025, Durov pointed to earlier pressure from French intelligence services involving Romanian elections. He said Telegram resisted those demands as well, declining to remove political content that did not break its rules. His remarks suggested that similar attempts to influence moderation had occurred more than once.
Following his arrest, Durov became increasingly critical of both the French government and the European Union. He argued that democratic processes require consistent protection of expression during elections. He stated that efforts to curb speech in the name of protecting democracy could have the opposite effect. His position continues to shape the unfolding case in France and the broader discussion over platform independence.
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