Telegram founder Pavel Durov warned that France could expertise a societal collapse if it continues down its present political trajectory of censorship and regulatory insurance policies throughout an interview on Wednesday.
“Emmanuel Macron isn’t making the suitable decisions. I’m very dissatisfied. France is getting weaker and weaker,” Durov stated in a translated excerpt from an interview with French outlet Le Level. Durov added:
“For those who increase one or two generations with a sure mindset, it then takes a long time to vary it. If we proceed to waste time, the danger will increase that the nation must bear very excessive modifications.
Once we delay needed reforms too lengthy, we find yourself experiencing a collapse,” the Telegram founder continued, warning that France was dropping expertise to different jurisdictions like Dubai.
In early June, Durov appeared for an interview with Tucker Carlson, because the Telegram founder continued his media marketing campaign following his August 2024 arrest in France.
The arrest drew widespread condemnation from the crypto neighborhood, civil rights activists and human rights foundations, which proceed to observe the case of Durov and its implications for free speech, self-expression, and political opinion within the digital age.
Associated: Telegram founder Durov on arrest, detention in France: ‘I’m confused’
Claims that French intelligence sought to censor EU election content material
The Telegram founder additionally recounted claims that French intelligence providers requested him to censor pro-conservative content associated to the Might 2025 Romanian presidential election.
Durov stated that Nicolas Lerner, the top of French intelligence providers, approached him on the Hôtel de Crillon and requested to censor the content material on the platform, a request he says he denied.
Durov argued that legal guidelines just like the European Union’s Digital Companies Act are a computer virus for censorship cloaked as shopper safety rules and automobiles to battle misinformation or promote on-line security.
“These legal guidelines are harmful as a result of they can be utilized towards those that created them. In the present day, they aim these labeled conspiracy theorists. Tomorrow, they could goal their authors,” Durov stated within the interview.
Journal: Did Telegram’s Pavel Durov commit a crime? Crypto lawyers weigh in
