France’s Moldova Election Was Allegedly Manipulated Via Telegram

Telegram founder Pavel Durov has just accused French intelligence of seeking political censorship in Moldova’s elections.

Telegram founder Pavel Durov has accused French intelligence of trying to use his legal troubles in Paris to pressure him into censoring political voices in Moldova. 

He revealed the allegations in posts shared on Telegram and X, and said that the request came ahead of Moldova’s previous presidential elections.

Telegram Founder Rejects Quid Pro Quo Offer

Durov stated that Telegram initially reviewed a list of channels flagged by French and Moldovan officials. Some channels clearly violated Telegram’s terms of service and were removed. However, he said the second list that arrived later was entirely different.

He explained that most of the channels on the second list were legitimate and fully compliant with Telegram’s rules. 

Their only common trait was that they expressed political views that the French and Moldovan governments reportedly opposed.

He added that using his ongoing legal case in France as leverage to push for such censorship was unacceptable.

Moldova’s Election and Broader Political Context

Moldova’s presidential election came amid serious tensions between pro-European and pro-Russian factions. 

President Maia Sandu’s Party of Action and Solidarity led the vote count, while opposition leader Igor Dodon challenged the results and called for protests.

Both Moldovan elections in recent years have been marred by accusations of foreign interference. Besides, Sandu has repeatedly warned of Russian attempts to influence the democratic process. 

Durov’s allegations have now drawn attention to possible Western involvement as well.

Durov’s Legal Struggles in France

The controversy unfolded against the backdrop of Durov’s legal troubles in France. French police arrested him in August of last year, and alleged that Telegram had been used for illegal activities, including money laundering and drug trafficking. 

Durov denied the charges and called the detention unprecedented for a tech founder.

Moreover, he was held for four days and then placed under judicial supervision. For months, he had to remain in France and report to the police twice weekly. Since July, he has been allowed to travel for short periods but must return regularly.

French prosecutors have admitted that the case is unlikely to reach trial soon. Meanwhile, Durov continues to accuse authorities of exploiting his legal situation for political aims.

Freedom of Speech vs Political Pressure

Durov’s claims show the ongoing struggle between state interests and digital freedoms. 

Additionally, analysts say that platforms like Telegram are facing increasing pressure from governments to moderate political content in ways that can affect democratic processes.

“Rule-based governance is essential,” said Alex Chandra, a partner at IGNOS Law Alliance. 

Besides, he warned that the legal vulnerabilities of platform executives can be used as leverage by governments looking for concessions. 

Parallel Issues in Crypto and Privacy

The situation is similar to challenges faced by other privacy-focused crypto platforms. Recent prosecutions of Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm and the founders of Samourai Wallet have raised issues about how governments pressure tech leaders.

This pattern, observers say, shows the need for clear international standards on digital rights.

French Authorities Deny Accusations

France has denied previous accusations by Durov about similar requests involving Romania’s elections. 

The French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs described his earlier claims as unfounded and diversionary. Moeover, the ministry has not yet commented directly on his latest remarks about Moldova.

Meanwhile, the French intelligence agency (DGSE) has acknowledged meeting with Durov in the past but stated that discussions focused on combating terrorism and child exploitation, not political censorship.

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