French Intel Agents Request Ban on Romanian Election-Related Channels from Telegram Boss
Telegram Founder Accuses French Intelligence of Election Interference
Pavel Durov, the CEO of encrypted messaging service Telegram, has leveled accusations against France's foreign intelligence agency, claiming they demanded the banning of conservative Romanian voices on the platform ahead of the presidential election in 2025.
In a post on his Telegram channel on Monday, Durov accused the Directorate-General for External Security (DGSE) of manipulation and focusing on geopolitics rather than child safety and anti-terrorism efforts as they purported.
Durov stated that the intelligence agency sought IP logs for users involved in political conversations and alleged that the agency falsely implied Telegram did little to remove child pornography as a manipulation tactic.
France has vehemently denied Durov's allegations, stating that their intend was to ensure the safety of children and combat terrorism. The Foreign Ministry emphasized the importance of responsible behavior and respect for Romania's democracy.
The French government and intelligence services have unequivocally refuted Durov's accusations, describing them as unfounded and a diversionary tactic. DGSE acknowledged contact with Durov but stressed that their conversations focused on countering terrorist content and child pornography, not election interference or political censorship.
Durov is no stranger to political scrutiny, having been arrested last year over allegations of facilitating criminal content. The charges remain unresolved. The incident sparked outrage across the tech industry, with cryptocurrencies associated with the Telegram platform experiencing a significant drop in value.
In the wake of Durov's arrest, Telegram pledged to cooperate with authorities and share details. The incident hindered the company's ambitions to make crypto-backed financial services a core feature of its platform.
Regardless of the ensuing controversy, Telegram has remained a popular choice for users seeking secure, end-to-end encrypted communication. The platform boasts over 500 million monthly active users, making it one of the most widely used messaging services worldwide.
[1] French authorities deny requests to censor political content on Telegram, after CEO's claims of interference.[2] French government unequivocally rejects Pavel Durov's claims of election interference.[3] Telegram founder Pavel Durov accused French intelligence of election meddling, denials follow.[4] France's DGSE responds to allegations of political censorship on Telegram.[5] French Foreign Ministry: Durov's allegations are baseless and without evidence.
[6] As cryptocurrencies linked to Telegram's platform face value drops following Durov's arrest, the company promises cooperation with authorities regarding any illegal content.
[7] In the realm of general news, digital assets and the crypto market seem sensitive to political tensions, as seen in the recent drop in value associated with the French government's actions against Telegram.
[8] Amidst war-and-conflicts, politics, and crime-and-justice discussions, the encryption giant Telegram stands firm, emphasizing user privacy and security, despite allegations of election interference.
[9] Pavel Durov's commitment to unveiling manipulation tactics extends to the digital sphere, as he introduces non-fungible tokens (NFTs) to his platform aimed at promoting transparency and authenticity in digital assets.
[10] Furthermore, the Telegram platform seeks to establish itself as a hub for crypto finance, recently announcing plans to provide decentralized finance (DeFi) and crypto trading services, with Bitcoin and Ethereum leading the charge.
