Social media platform Telegram founder Pavel Durov mentioned he “flatly refused” the request of a Western European authorities to censor conservative political content material. In a Telegram submit on Might 18, Durove wrote:
“Telegram won’t prohibit the freedoms of Romanian customers or block their political channels.”
The demand for censorship got here forward of at the moment’s scheduled Romanian presidential elections. Nicusor Dan, a mathematician turned liberal mayor of Bucharest, defeated right-wing nationalist opponent George Simion at the moment to grow to be the President of Romania.
Allegations of interference in opposition to France
In his submit, Durov didn’t explicitly identify the nation that requested for the censorship. Nevertheless, he hinted at it with a baguette emoji, understandably pointing to France. Durov wrote:
“You possibly can’t “defend democracy” by destroying democracy. You possibly can’t “struggle election interference” by interfering with elections. You both have freedom of speech and honest elections — otherwise you don’t. And the Romanian individuals deserve each.”
In line with a BBC report, nonetheless, France claimed that the allegations of interference have been “fully unfounded.” This prompted Durov to overtly identify France and its consultant who positioned the request.
In a later X submit, Durov acknowledged that he met with Nicolas Lerner, head of French intelligence, on the Salon des Batailles within the Hôtel de Crillon. On the assembly, Lerner requested Durov to “ban” conservative political content material on Telegram forward of the Romanian elections.
Durov added that Telegram didn’t impinge on the rights of protestors in Russia, Belarus, or Iran, and “gained’t begin doing it in Europe.”
After Dan’s victory, French Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron, in an X submit, introduced that he had referred to as and congratulated Dan, however didn’t deny that makes an attempt to govern the election outcomes had existed. Whereas pledging France’s help, Macron wrote:
“Regardless of quite a few makes an attempt at manipulation, Romanians tonight selected democracy, the rule of regulation, and the European Union.”
Durov gained limelight after his arrest in France final 12 months
After French authorities arrested Durov in August 2024, he gained prominence within the crypto group that valued his stance on free speech, privateness, and particular person liberties. French prosecutors charged Durov with being complicit within the facilitation of crimes like youngster pornography and drug trafficking by way of Telegram.
The crypto group condemned the arrest in an open letter and accused the French authorities of violating human rights. The following day, Durov was granted a €5 million bail and positioned beneath judicial supervision. In March, a French court docket granted Durov’s request to change his bail circumstances, permitting him a number of weeks of go away to go to Dubai.
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