Telegram upholds freedom of speech, Durov rejects political content censorship.

Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, recently publicly stated that he "categorically rejected" the request from Western European governments to censor conservative political content. Durov emphasized in a Telegram post: "Telegram will not restrict the freedom of Romanian users or block their political channels."

This statement was issued on the eve of the Romanian presidential election, in which Nicusor Dan defeated right-wing nationalist opponent George Simion to become the new president. Durov accuses France of interfering in the Romanian elections Although Durov did not explicitly mention the countries that require scrutiny in his X post, he hinted at France with a baguette emoji. He wrote: "You cannot 'defend democracy' by destroying it, nor can you use election interference as a pretext for intervening in other countries."

Durov emphasized that the Romanian people should enjoy freedom of speech and fair elections. However, the French side stated that the interference allegations are "baseless." Subsequently, Durov publicly named France and the representatives who made the request.

In a subsequent X post, Durov revealed that he met with Nicolas Lerner, the head of the French intelligence agency, who asked him to "ban" conservative political content published on Telegram before the Romanian elections. Durov stated that Telegram will not infringe on the rights of protesters in any country, whether it be Russia, Belarus, Iran, or Europe. After the announcement of the Romanian presidential election results, French Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron congratulated the winner Nicusor Dan, but avoided discussing the allegations of his government's interference in foreign elections.

Macron wrote in an X post: "Despite being manipulated multiple times, the Romanians chose democracy, the rule of law, and the EU tonight." Last year, being arrested in France became a focal point of industry attention. Looking back at history, since his arrest in France last August, Durov has gained fame in the cryptocurrency community for his firm stance on freedom of speech, privacy, and personal liberty. Although French prosecutors have accused him of assisting in criminal activities through Telegram, this arrest has provoked a strong backlash from the cryptocurrency community.

Fortunately, an open letter from the crypto community condemned the actions of the French government, stating that the move infringed on human rights. Under pressure from public opinion, Durov was granted a bail of 5 million euros the next day and placed under judicial supervision. Subsequently, in March of this year, a French court approved Durov's request to modify his bail conditions, allowing him to be released and travel to Dubai. Conclusion: The clash between Durov and the French government reflects the increasingly tense struggle between freedom of speech and national security in the internet age. As political content becomes the focal point of censorship, social media platforms are facing unprecedented challenges in defending user rights while responding to government pressure. Durov's firm stance not only concerns the fate of Telegram but also the future direction of civil liberties and democratic values in the digital age. The outcome of this game may reshape the power structure of cyberspace and ultimately define the boundaries of information freedom in our time. In this era of free flow of information, social media platforms play an increasingly important role. So, how do you think social media platforms should grasp the scale of political content censorship? Leave your views in the comments! #Telegram # freedom of speech #政治审查 # democratic elections