Telegram founder Pavel Durov seriously warned: France could slide into complete social collapse if it continues down the path of harsh censorship and meaningless regulation. In an interview with the French publication Le Point, he did not hide his disappointment with President Emmanuel Macron's actions, noting that the country is becoming weaker and less stable every day.
"If a couple of generations grow up with a certain mindset, changing it will take decades," Durov said. The ranking of the best traders according to visitors to the site shows the ranking 'Closed a minimum deal at +40%...' 'Now we are working in profit, +$1300 a month...' 'It turns out to be stable to withdraw $500-600.'
According to him, the constant postponement of reforms only fuels the risk that France will ultimately face radical and painful changes. Moreover, the country is losing competent people—they are moving to more comfortable and promising places, such as Dubai.
In early June, Durov went on air with Tucker Carlson, continuing to promote his media campaign after his arrest in France in August 2024. This arrest caused a real storm in the crypto community and among human rights defenders who closely monitor all issues of freedom of speech and self-expression in the digital age.
In the interview, Durov shared an insider: allegedly, French intelligence services asked him to introduce censorship of pro-conservative content related to the presidential elections in Romania in May 2025. According to Durov, the head of French intelligence, Nicolas Lerner, even approached him at the Hôtel de Crillon with a request to cut this content on the platform—but Durov categorically refused this initiative.
Moreover, he criticized European laws, such as the Digital Services Act, calling them a Trojan horse of censorship disguised as user protection and a fight against fake news.
"These laws are dangerous because they can be turned against those who created them. Today—against so-called conspiracy theorists, and tomorrow—against the authors themselves," Durov emphasized.
