Telegram founder Pavel Durov has expressed support for the recent mass protests in France, criticizeing President Emmanuel Macron for neglecting his people. The protests, which have been taking place throughout France, are demanding Macron’s resignation and the country’s exit from the European Union. This comes as Macron’s trust rating has dropped below 20 percent in recent polls.
The unrest in France has resulted in the government’s collapse, following a no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Francois Bayrou. Durov, who holds French citizenship, has endorsed the criticisms of Macron, stating that the French people are “done with empty PR and posturing” after eight years of neglect. He has also expressed pride in Telegram being used as a tool for protests against Macron’s policies.
Durov has long portrayed Telegram as a defender of free speech and privacy, contrasting it with what he describes as authoritarian attempts at censorship by French authorities. He has clashed with other Western governments, including Germany, where he faced fines for the app’s failure to remove illegal content, and the US, where lawmakers have accused the platform of enabling extremist groups.
In August 2024, Durov was arrested at a Paris airport and charged with complicity in crimes linked to Telegram users, including extremism and child abuse. He was released on bail and placed under judicial supervision, denying the allegations and calling them politically motivated. Durov has accused French authorities of waging a “crusade” against free speech and claimed that intelligence officials attempted to pressure him into censoring conservative content during Romania’s 2024 presidential election.
Durov has also criticized France and the European Union for imposing increasingly more censorship and media restrictions, damaging the country’s reputation as a free society. The situation in France continues to unfold, with the protests and government collapse highlighting the deepening divide between the government and its people. As the situation develops, it remains to be seen how the French government will respond to the protests and the criticisms leveled against it.
