Telegram’s CEO claims France tried to censor Romanian conservatives—just before a key election.
At a Glance
- Telegram CEO Pavel Durov accused France’s DGSE of trying to silence conservative Romanian voices
- France denied the charge, calling it a distraction from real election threats
- Durov hinted at France with a cheeky “🥖” emoji but refused to censor users
- France says all discussions with Telegram focused only on cybercrime, not politics
- Romanian election concluded with centrist Nicusor Dan defeating nationalist George Simion
French Censorship Accusation Sparks Firestorm
In an eyebrow-raising twist, Telegram founder Pavel Durov accused France’s Directorate-General for External Security (DGSE) of trying to pressure the platform into censoring conservative Romanian channels ahead of a pivotal presidential election. While Durov didn’t name France outright, he posted a coy Instagram story about a Western European government’s request—then sealed the accusation with a tell-tale baguette emoji.
France immediately pushed back. In a firm denial, the French Foreign Ministry stated, “France categorically rejects these allegations and calls on everyone to exercise responsibility and respect for Romanian democracy.”
A Clash Over Free Speech—and Foreign Policy
The dispute unfolded during Romania’s tightly contested presidential race, which saw centrist Nicusor Dan narrowly defeat nationalist firebrand George Simion. The timing of the censorship request struck many as suspicious—especially considering that Romania’s own Constitutional Court previously nullified an election due to foreign meddling.
Watch a report: Telegram vs France: Election Interference or Justified Moderation?
Durov remained adamant in his refusal to comply, posting: “You can’t ‘fight election interference’ by interfering with elections.” His decision to resist potential state censorship earned praise from free speech advocates but deepened tensions with European regulators.
Cybersecurity or Censorship?
France maintains that any outreach to Telegram focused exclusively on combating extremism and illegal content, such as child exploitation and terrorism—not political discourse. A French government spokesperson called the censorship allegations “a diversionary maneuver” from the “real threats of interference targeting Romania.”
The episode reveals a growing chasm between Silicon Valley-style tech libertarianism and Europe’s state-centric approach to digital governance. With Durov already under fire for Telegram’s content moderation practices, the standoff is likely to escalate.
Whether Durov’s defiance is hailed as a defense of democratic integrity or dismissed as political theater, one thing is certain: the era of anonymous state pressure on social platforms may be ending—under the harsh light of public scrutiny.
