Telegram Founder Says France Risks Collapse Over Rising Censorship and Brain Drain
France could be heading towards a societal breakdown if it continues enforcing restrictive policies on free speech and digital platforms, Telegram founder Pavel Durov has warned in a new interview.
The tech entrepreneur criticised the French government for tightening control over online content, saying such actions are driving away talent and weakening the country from within.
Durov Says Macron’s Choices Are Weakening France
Speaking to French outlet “Le Point”, Durov voiced deep disappointment in the leadership of President Emmanuel Macron.
“Emmanuel Macron isn’t making the right choices. I’m very disappointed. France is getting weaker and weaker.”
Durov warned that political decisions today could have long-term consequences, especially for the younger generation.
"If you raise one or two generations with a certain mindset, it then takes decades to change it. If we continue to waste time, the risk increases that the country will have to undergo very extreme changes. When we delay necessary reforms too long, we end up experiencing a collapse.”
France Losing Talent to Dubai Amid Growing Control
Durov highlighted a growing trend of skilled professionals leaving France for more liberal jurisdictions, such as Dubai.
He argued that restrictive measures are not only damaging freedom of speech but also making the country less competitive by forcing innovators and entrepreneurs to look elsewhere.
The warning comes against a backdrop of intensifying criticism over France’s approach to digital regulation and surveillance.
Arrest in 2024 Fuels Free Speech Concerns
Durov’s public remarks follow his controversial arrest in France in August 2024, a case that sparked backlash across the tech and crypto communities.
Civil rights groups and human rights organisations continue to track the case, viewing it as a litmus test for digital freedom in Europe.
He has since launched a media campaign to raise awareness, including a high-profile interview with Tucker Carlson in early June 2025, where he doubled down on his criticism of European regulatory efforts.
Allegations Against French Intelligence Over Election Content
In the same interview, Durov claimed that French intelligence officials had personally pressured him to suppress political content.
He recounted a meeting with Nicolas Lerner, director of France’s intelligence agency, at the Hôtel de Crillon, where he was allegedly asked to censor pro-conservative messages relating to Romania’s presidential election in May 2025.
Durov said he refused the request, reinforcing his platform’s stance against political censorship.
EU Laws Described As Tools For Suppression
He also took aim at the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA), calling it a “Trojan horse” for censorship.
Durov warned that although such regulations are framed as measures for consumer safety and combating misinformation, they could easily be turned against those who helped create them.
“These laws are dangerous because they can be used against those who created them. Today, they target those labeled conspiracy theorists. Tomorrow, they may target their authors.”
The incident adds to growing global debate over the balance between safety, misinformation controls, and the right to freedom of expression in the digital space.
Miyuki
Weiliang
Weatherly