‘I refused': Telegram CEO Pavel Durov alleges French interference in Romanian elections
File photo: Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram (Picture credit: X/@durov)
Pavel Durov, the founder of
Telegram
, claimed on Sunday that he rejected a direct request from French intelligence to block conservative voices in Romania ahead of the country's presidential election runoff.
In a series of explosive posts on his Telegram channel, Durov alleged that Nicolas Lerner, the head of France's DGSI (domestic intelligence agency), personally approached him during a meeting in Paris this spring.
'This spring at the Salon des Batailles in the Hôtel de Crillon, Nicolas Lerner, head of French intelligence, asked me to ban conservative voices in Romania ahead of elections,' Durov wrote. 'I refused.
We didn't block protesters in Russia, Belarus, or Iran. We won't start doing it in Europe.'
Earlier, Durov had cryptically hinted at the country involved, writing, 'A Western European government (guess which 🥖) approached Telegram asking us to silence conservative voices in Romania ahead of today's presidential elections. I flatly refused.'
He continued, 'You can't 'defend democracy' by destroying democracy.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Memperdagangkan CFD Emas dengan salah satu spread terendah?
IC Markets
Mendaftar
Undo
You can't 'fight election interference' by interfering with elections. You either have freedom of speech and fair elections — or you don't. And the Romanian people deserve both.'
France denies allegations
France swiftly rejected the accusations. The French foreign ministry posted on X that 'completely unfounded allegations are circulating on Telegram and Twitter (X) regarding alleged French interference in the
Romanian presidential election
.
France categorically rejects these allegations and calls on everyone to exercise responsibility and respect for Romanian democracy.'
Durov's claims surfaced just hours before polls closed in Romania's high-stakes runoff between centrist independent Nicușor Dan and hard-right nationalist George Simion.
As per The New York Times, Dan, a mathematics professor and the mayor of Bucharest, won with 54% of the vote, defeating Simion, who secured 46%.
Simion, aligned with Trump-style populism and sceptical of EU policies, preemptively claimed fraud, warning of 'dead people' on voter rolls without providing evidence. 'We are the clear winners of these elections,' he told supporters before results were confirmed.
The election follows a contentious period in Romanian politics. As per Reuters, a previous presidential vote was annulled due to alleged Russian interference, claims denied by Moscow, which had reportedly benefited ultranationalist Calin Georgescu, later banned from running.
Durov, who was detained in France last year in an unrelated investigation into Telegram's role in enabling illicit activity, has remained a controversial figure.
According to The New York Times, he was charged with complicity in crimes like child sexual abuse distribution and drug trafficking. Durov denies the allegations and argues Telegram exceeds its legal responsibilities regarding content moderation.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
20 minutes ago
- Time of India
OpenAI finds more Chinese groups using ChatGPT for malicious purposes
OpenAI is seeing an increasing number of Chinese groups using its artificial intelligence technology for covert operations, which the ChatGPT maker described in a report released Thursday. While the scope and tactics employed by these groups have expanded, the operations detected were generally small in scale and targeted limited audiences, the San Francisco-based startup said. Since ChatGPT burst onto the scene in late 2022, there have been concerns about the potential consequences of generative AI technology , which can quickly and easily produce human-like text, imagery and audio. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2 Simple Profitable Strategies That Can Make You 5K Per Day thefutureuniversity Learn More OpenAI regularly releases reports on malicious activity it detects on its platform, such as creating and debugging malware, or generating fake content for websites and social media platforms. In one example, OpenAI banned ChatGPT accounts that generated social media posts on political and geopolitical topics relevant to China, including criticism of a Taiwan-centric video game, false accusations against a Pakistani activist, and content related to the closure of USAID. Live Events Some content also criticised US President Donald Trump 's sweeping tariffs, generating X posts, such as "Tariffs make imported goods outrageously expensive, yet the government splurges on overseas aid. Who's supposed to keep eating?". Discover the stories of your interest Blockchain 5 Stories Cyber-safety 7 Stories Fintech 9 Stories E-comm 9 Stories ML 8 Stories Edtech 6 Stories In another example, China-linked threat actors used AI to support various phases of their cyber operations , including open-source research, script modification, troubleshooting system configurations, and development of tools for password brute forcing and social media automation. A third example OpenAI found was a China-origin influence operation that generated polarized social media content supporting both sides of divisive topics within U.S. political discourse, including text and AI-generated profile images. China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on OpenAI's findings. OpenAI has cemented its position as one of the world's most valuable private companies after announcing a $40 billion funding round valuing the company at $300 billion.
Time of India
30 minutes ago
- Time of India
Communal post case: Influencer Sharmishtha Panoli gets bail by Calcutta HC; to furnish bail bond of Rs 10,000
Sharmishtha Panoli (File photo) NEW DELHI: The Calcutta high court on Thursday granted interim bail to social media influencer and law student Sharmishtha Panoli, nearly a week after her arrest for allegedly hurting religious sentiments through an Instagram video. Panoli was arrested on May 30. The high court directed Panoli to furnish a bond worth Rs 10,000. The 22-year-old, who was taken into custody by Kolkata Police from Gurugram last Friday, had been sent to judicial custody by a local court in Kolkata till June 13. However, her legal team moved the high court seeking relief, arguing that the case was a matter of free speech and that Panoli had already removed the controversial video and issued an apology. Her counsel, Md Samimuddin, said the court directed the state to ensure Panoli receives basic amenities while in custody, noting that such provisions were currently lacking. 'The High Court has also instructed the authorities not to register any fresh FIRs on the same cause of action,' he added. The arrest stemmed from a complaint filed by Wajahat Khan Qadri at the Garden Reach police station in Kolkata. He accused Panoli of sharing 'communal' content in a video discussing Bollywood's silence on 'Operation Sindoor'. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like New Launch at Godrej Sector 12 | Luxurious 3 & 4 BHK Homes @₹2.91 Cr* Godrej Majesty Book Now Undo However, police have since registered an FIR against Qadri himself for allegedly posting inflammatory content online. He is now absconding, officers confirmed. Sharmishtha's arrest sparked backlash from legal circles. Manan Kumar Mishra, Chairman of the Bar Council of India, called it a 'grave miscarriage of justice' and accused the West Bengal government of selectively enforcing laws based on community identity.
Time of India
30 minutes ago
- Time of India
'Sindoor ka badla khoon': Shashi Tharoor on Operation Sindoor's symbolism in US; watch video
Shashi Tharoor NEW DELHI: Congress MP and former diplomat Shashi Tharoor , who is leading an all-party delegation to the United States, on Wednesday described Operation Sindoor as a deeply symbolic and culturally resonant response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack , saying that the mission was India's way of delivering "sindoor ka badla khoon", blood in return for the sindoor wiped from the foreheads of widowed Indian women in J&K's Pahalgam. Speaking in a presser, Tharoor said the name "Operation Sindoor" was deliberately chosen to convey both cultural meaning and national resolve. "Operation Sindoor, actually, I thought was a brilliantly chosen name. Sindoor, in case some Americans obviously don't know about this, is a vermilion mark that is applied to the centre of the forehead of married women in the Hindu tradition," he said. Detailing the brutal nature of the Pahalgam attack, Tharoor added, "We were very conscious of these brutal terrorists who, by the way, shot men in front of their wives and children but spared the women, and when one wife screamed out, 'Kill me too,' she was told, 'No, you go back and tell them what we've done.'" "That sindoor had essentially been wiped off the foreheads of 26 Indian women… so we wanted first of all, to avenge that act of wiping off the sindoor. But, secondly, it's no accident that the colour of the sindoor is bright vermilion red, which is not far from the colour of blood, and in many ways there is a Hindi expression that 'khoon ka badla khoon'; here it was 'sindoor ka badla khoon' hoga," he said. On the operational front, Tharoor highlighted the precision and scale of India's military strikes. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning For Working Professionals. BITS Pilani WILP Apply Now Undo 'There've been craters on the runway, operational command centers have been busted by these Indian bombs. Just yesterday, the Pakistanis publicly admitted that Indian strikes were so wide-ranging and effective they struck from as far as Hyderabad in South Pakistan to Peshawar in the northwest,' he said. Tharoor emphasised that the delegation's visit is aimed at presenting a united Indian stand against terrorism and educating the international community on the motivations behind India's counterterror action. 'This is not about party politics. We are here to speak for a united India, to explain clearly what Operation Sindoor stands for and why the country responded the way it did,' he said.
