Telegram’s creator supports the recent demonstrations and accuses Macron of neglecting the French population.
Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, has lauded the use of his platform in the recent widespread protests in France. He also criticized French President Emmanuel Macron for allegedly failing the French people.
France has been experiencing large-scale demonstrations in recent weeks, with protesters calling for Macron’s resignation and France’s exit from the European Union.
These disturbances coincide with Macron’s approval ratings dropping below 20% in recent surveys. The French government also recently collapsed following a no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Francois Bayrou.
Durov expressed his support for the criticisms against Macron in a Wednesday post on X, stating that “after 8 years of neglect, the French people are done with empty PR and posturing – and they’re striking back.” He further added he is “proud that Telegram is a tool for protests in France against Macron’s failed policies.”
The Russian-born billionaire has consistently presented Telegram as a champion of free speech and privacy, contrasting it with what he views as authoritarian censorship attempts by French authorities.
Durov has also encountered disagreements with other Western governments, including fines in Germany for Telegram’s failure to remove illegal content and criticism in the US, where lawmakers have accused the platform of facilitating extremist groups.
In August 2024, Durov, a French citizen, was arrested at a Paris airport and charged with being an accomplice in crimes linked to Telegram users, including extremism and child abuse. He was later released on €5 million ($5.4 million) bail and placed under judicial supervision.
Durov has consistently denied these allegations, claiming they are politically motivated. He has accused French authorities of conducting “a crusade” against free speech and alleged that intelligence officials attempted to pressure him into censoring conservative content during Romania’s 2024 presidential election.
Durov has also voiced broader criticism of France, asserting that the country has tarnished its reputation as a free society. He has extended this criticism to the European Union, claiming that the bloc is implementing increasing censorship and media restrictions.
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