Telegram Founder Accuses French Intelligence of Censorship and Data Demands

Telegram Founder Pavel Durov Accuses French Intelligence of Data Demands and Censorship Paris, France – Pavel Durov, the founder of the messaging app Telegram, has made serious allegations against French intelligence services. He claims that French authorities demanded access to user data and requested content moderation on Telegram within Moldova, Ukraine, and Romania. Durov shared a tweet detailing the alleged requests, which sparked immediate controversy. "French intelligence services confirmed that they met with me—allegedly to fight terrorism and child porn. In reality, child porn was never even mentioned," Durov tweeted. "They did want IPs of terror suspects in France, but their main focus was always geopolitics: Romania, Moldova, Ukraine." The French government has strongly denied Durov's accusations, stating that his detention in Paris was solely due to terrorism concerns. This conflicting information leaves the public questioning the true nature of the interactions between Durov and French intelligence. The incident highlights the ongoing debate surrounding government access to user data and the potential for censorship on social media platforms. The conflicting narratives underscore the importance of transparency and accountability in intelligence operations.