Pavel Durov can’t attend the Oslo Freedom Discussion board in particular person after a French courtroom blocked his request to journey. The Human Rights Basis, which organizes the discussion board, confirmed the information on Could 24.
The Oslo Freedom Discussion board is a summit centered on human rights and civil liberties. Durov, the co-founder of Telegram, was scheduled to be a keynote speaker on the occasion in Oslo, Norway. He’ll now tackle the viewers remotely by way of livestream.
HRF founder and CEO Thor Halvorssen responded to the choice.
“It is unfortunate that French courts would block Mr. Durov from participating in an event where his voice is so needed,”
he mentioned.
No additional authorized particulars have been shared by the courtroom or the Human Rights Basis. Nevertheless, the choice follows latest rigidity between Pavel Durov and French authorities over Telegram censorship.
Durov Says Nicolas Lerner Requested Telegram Censorship in France
On Could 18, Pavel Durov wrote on Telegram that French intelligence companies requested him to censor conservative content material associated to the Romanian elections. He later recognized Nicolas Lerner, head of the Common Directorate for Inner Safety (DGSI), because the official behind the request.
Durov mentioned the dialog came about on the Salon des Batailles in Hôtel de Crillon, a widely known Paris venue. In a submit on X, he said:
“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. I refused. We didn’t block protesters in Russia, Belarus, or Iran. We won’t start doing it in Europe.”
Durov has repeatedly mentioned that Telegram won’t censor political content material, even beneath strain from governments. He mentioned the platform would exit markets earlier than it agrees to limit political speech.
The Telegram founder described government-led censorship requests as human rights violations. He famous that his workforce wouldn’t make exceptions primarily based on the area.
Telegram Censorship Dispute Tied to Romanian Elections
The Telegram censorship request from French intelligence reportedly involved conservative voices forward of the Romanian presidential elections. Pavel Durov mentioned he denied the request and publicly criticized the strategy.
In a Could 18 submit on Telegram, he wrote:
“You can’t ‘defend democracy’ by destroying democracy. You can’t ‘fight election interference’ by interfering with elections.”
He didn’t initially point out any nation by title however later clarified that the request got here from France and was associated to Romania. Durov additionally posted that Telegram had taken the identical stance when related calls for got here from governments in Russia, Belarus, and Iran.
No French authorities consultant, together with the DGSI, has commented publicly on Durov’s statements. The Human Rights Basis additionally has not responded to the censorship claims.
Ongoing Authorized Case in France Could Be Linked to Journey Ban
The French courtroom didn’t disclose the complete purpose for denying Pavel Durov’s journey request. Nevertheless, he’s at present concerned in a authorized case in France. The case particulars haven’t been made public.
This case seems to be the rationale he can’t go away France, together with for talking occasions just like the Oslo Freedom Discussion board. The Human Rights Basis didn’t check with the authorized case in its assertion however confirmed Durov’s speech would nonetheless happen by way of livestream.
Telegram stays operational in France and Romania, with no studies of restrictions or modifications following the incident. Nevertheless, Durov’s statements have renewed consideration to the difficulty of platform management throughout elections.