Telegram CEO Refuses French Censorship Request Ahead of Romanian Presidential Election

Pavel Durov, founder of Telegram, has rejected a request from French intelligence to censor conservative voices in Romania’s upcoming presidential elections. The incident occurred during a meeting between Durov and French DGSI head Nicolas Lerner in Paris on May 18, 2025, according to Durov himself. The CEO asserts he refused the censorship request, highlighting the ongoing clash between digital platform regulations and free speech principles, particularly within the growing cryptocurrency community.