Telegram founder Pavel Durov has accused EU and UK authorities of offering secret deals to social media executives to suppress dissent, claiming “child protection” acts as a cover for censorship. The owner of X (Twitter), Elon Musk, has publicly supported it.
Durov’s statements came on the same day as French prosecutors He was summoned Musk for a voluntary interview regarding allegations that X facilitated child abuse and deepfake material.
Durov claims that organizers use children as a PR shield
In a series of publications, Durov laid out what he described as the prevailing pattern in European governments. He claimed that the authorities first communicate with the platform’s CEOs through informal agreements to restrict content.
Those who refuse face criminal proceedings under justification Child protection laws.
“When people object, they say ‘it’s all for the children.’ ‘Child protection’ has become the standard legal/PR cover,” Durov Express.
Moreover, Durov argues that child safety discourse exploits parental instincts to bypass critical thinking Surveillance and digital rights.
It was Durov himself He was arrested at Paris airport In August 2024 he was charged 12 chargesincluding alleged complicity in the distribution of child exploitation materials.
for him The travel ban has been lifted in November 2025, although the investigation is ongoing. He revealed it recently He faces more than a dozen chargesEach of them carries up to 10 years in prison.
Musk responded by agreeing with Durov’s criticism. He is apart It was rejected French investigation into X as a “political attack.”
The US Department of Justice rejected France’s request for assistance, describing it as an attempt “to implicate the United States in a politically charged criminal case.”
The exchange followed British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s April 16 meeting in Downing Street, where he warned executives from X, Meta, Snap, YouTube and TikTok that banning children from their platforms would be “preferable in a world where harm is the price” for using social media.
“I know parents are concerned about social media and its impact on their children’s safety. They rightly expect quick action. Today, I’m calling on senior leaders at X, Meta, Snap, YouTube and TikTok to step up their efforts. I will do whatever it takes to keep children safe online,” Starmer said. Articulated.
Whether European regulators are protecting children or strengthening control over digital platforms is likely to remain a matter of contention as the French investigation into the ongoing X-Dorov case progresses in the coming months.
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