founder of Telegram
Highlights
2025
Q3
Telegram founder Pavel Durov:
— About a year ago, French intelligence agencies contacted me and asked us to censor some Moldovan channels before the elections in Moldova. France
— After reviewing the channels they reported to us, we removed several that clearly violated the rules.
— French intelligence later told me, “In exchange for this cooperation, we will say good things about you to the judge.”
— This was unacceptable on many levels. If an institution got that close to the judge, it was tantamount to interfering with the judicial process.
— Shortly thereafter, they sent us a second list of Moldovan channels. Unlike the first list, not all of the channels on it had violated any rules.
— We refused to comply with this request. Telegram is committed to freedom of expression and will not remove content for political reasons.
— I will expose any attempts to suppress or censor Telegram.