A French court has prohibited Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov from personally attending the Oslo Freedom Forum this year, rejecting his application to travel to Norway for the event.
The Russian tech entrepreneur will deliver his speech.
keynote speech remotely
through live stream despite the travel restriction,
according
to the Human Rights Foundation (HRF).
The Oslo Freedom Forum is organized by the Human Rights Foundation (HRF), a non-profit promoting freedom of speech and democracy globally.
HRF founder Thor Halvorssen said the decision was disappointing, adding that it was a shame the French courts had banned Mr. Durov from attending an event where his voice was so critical.
He has become the focus of
legal investigation
in France since August 2024.
Durov was
arrested
While attempting to depart from Le Bourget Airport close to Paris, French prosecutors accused him of being complicit in
distributing
Child exploitation content (CEC) and failure to cooperate with police authorities.
Apparently, Telegram rejected over 3,000 demands from law enforcement agencies for providing evidence related to criminal content.
After his arrest, the businessman was let go on bail.
5 million euro bail
However, the court imposed certain conditions. He has been
ordered
To remain in France and check in with the police biweekly.
In court documents, Durov stated that these allegations lack merit. He mentioned that although Telegram maintains a European Union-based entity for addressing law enforcement inquiries, his firm complies with such demands wherever feasible.
In a public posting, Mr. Durov stated that his detainment was unlawful. He also mentioned that Telegram does not operate beyond the bounds of the law and emphasized their dedication to enhancing content management while safeguarding both user privacy and freedom of expression.
However, the court refused to grant him authorization for travel to Oslo. The judges decided that the risk of him fleeing was “significant.”
Durov asserts that there has been pressure to censor political material on Telegram.
Telegram’s founder has claimed the French government has pressured the app to censor political content.
In mid-May 2025, Durov made an unexpected move by throwing down the gauntlet.
He stated that the head of French intelligence, Nicolas Lerner, directly ordered him to prohibit conservative political material prior to Romania’s impending presidential election.
The gathering apparently took place at the Hôtel de Crillon in Paris, an opulent luxurious palace within the city. According to his statement, Lerner requested him to “tone down” the voices of Romanian opposition on Telegram.
In a message posted on Telegram, the technology businessman stated that defending democracy does not involve preventing individuals from voicing their views.
France’s DGSE (Directorate-General for External Security) led by Lerner has refuted these claims. According to officials, their conversations with Durov were limited to topics like terrorism and child exploitation materials, rather than political issues.
However, these claims sparked a major backlash on social media.
Prominent individuals such as technology tycoon Elon Musk and whistleblower Edward Snowden joined forces to support Durov, asserting that this incident reflects a larger trend of Western authorities trying to restrict internet expression.
Backers of free expression rally around Durov situation
Durov’s backers argue that the French accusations are politically motivated. They warn that making platform creators liable for content posted by users might jeopardize online freedoms.
A proponent of digital rights has stated that should technology company leaders face imprisonment each time they decline to eliminate content which authorities wish to have removed from social platforms, nobody would truly be secure.
Some argue that platforms such as Telegram should take additional steps to eliminate unlawful material and protect at-risk groups.
Durov states that Telegram finds the right equilibrium.
He stated that they do not censor demonstrators in Russia, Belarus, or Iran and that this policy will remain unchanged in Europe.
According to the Human Rights Foundation, having Durov participate, even in a virtual capacity, is crucial for discussions about digital rights.
Currently, he stays in France, battling legal allegations and what he asserts is Europe’s move towards increased political censorship.
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