Elon Musk has highlighted allegations made by Telegram founder Pavel Durov that French intelligence tried to interfere in last year’s Moldovan presidential election. Durov says the agency asked his platform to censor several channels before the vote and offered assistance in a criminal case pending against him in France in return.
According to Durov, French intelligence approached him last year with a request to block a number of channels. While some of the flagged channels violated Telegram’s rules and were removed, others were legitimate but expressed views unpopular with French and Moldovan authorities. Durov called the actions of the French spies “unacceptable,” arguing that the offer amounted to interference in the judicial process and an exploitation of his own legal situation in France.
Durov was arrested at a Paris airport in August 2024 and charged with complicity in crimes linked to Telegram users, including extremism and child abuse. He was later released on €5 million bail and placed under judicial supervision. Moldovan President Maia Sandu, a pro‑EU figure, was re‑elected in 2024 amid allegations of electoral irregularities.
This is not the first time Durov has accused French intelligence of attempting to censor conservative voices. Earlier, he claimed that French intelligence chief Nicolas Lerner personally asked him to block conservatives in Romania ahead of the presidential election rerun in May, a request Durov says he rejected. Paris has vehemently denied the allegation.
Musk has expressed support for Durov, responding to the claims with a brief post. The incident underscores concerns about election interference and the role of social‑media platforms in regulating online content. As companies continue to navigate the complexities of censorship and electoral meddling, such cases highlight the need for greater transparency and accountability, given their significant implications for democratic integrity and the influence of external actors on election outcomes.
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