Telegram founder Pavel Durov has issued a stark warning about the direction France is heading, cautioning that the country may face societal collapse if it continues pursuing policies of censorship and overregulation . Speaking in an interview published Wednesday by French outlet Le Point , Durov criticized French President Emmanuel Macron’s leadership and expressed disappointment over the country’s increasing constraints on freedom of expression and digital autonomy. “Emmanuel Macron isn’t making the right choices. I’m very disappointed. France is getting weaker and weaker,” said Durov, whose messaging app has become a popular platform for free expression and privacy-focused communication. He warned that France’s rigid political culture could take decades to reform, and if change is delayed further, the country risks being forced into extreme upheaval. Durov also pointed to an exodus of talent from France to more open jurisdictions like Dubai, saying that prolonged inaction and censorship are driving innovation and entrepreneurs away. Controversial Arrest in France The interview follows Durov’s arrest in France in August 2024 —a move that sparked widespread outrage across the tech world and among human rights advocates. Civil liberties groups continue to monitor the case, which many see as emblematic of the broader erosion of digital rights and political dissent within European democracies. Durov has since appeared in multiple interviews, including a high-profile conversation with American commentator Tucker Carlson in early June. In these appearances, he has positioned himself as a defender of free speech and has openly criticized government overreach, particularly in Europe. The Telegram founder has become increasingly vocal about the legal frameworks, such as the European Union’s Digital Services Act, which he believes give authorities broad power to suppress dissent under the guise of consumer protection and misinformation control. French Intelligence Allegedly Sought Election Censorship Perhaps most notably, Durov claimed during the interview that French intelligence services had approached him with a request to censor pro-conservative content during the Romanian presidential election in May 2025. He alleged that Nicolas Lerner, the head of French intelligence, personally made the request at the Hôtel de Crillon—an offer Durov said he firmly declined. “These laws are dangerous because they can be used against those who created them,” he warned. “Today, they target those labeled conspiracy theorists. Tomorrow, they may target their authors.” The post Pavel Durov Warns of Societal Collapse in France Over Censorship Policies appeared first on TheCoinrise.com .
