Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov has accused France of abandoning democratic principles after French police raided the Paris offices of Elon Musk’s social media platform X, calling the country “not a free country” and warning of a broader assault on digital privacy and media freedom across the European Union.
The raid was conducted as part of an investigation into X’s artificial intelligence chatbot Grok and its alleged role in generating sexualized deepfake images of women and children. According to French authorities, the search was carried out in cooperation with national cybercrime units and Europol, following the launch of a formal probe last month. The investigation spans a wide range of alleged offenses, including possession and organized distribution of child sexual abuse material, the creation of sexualized deepfakes, dissemination of Holocaust denial content, and fraudulent data collection practices.
Reacting to the operation, Durov claimed France was uniquely aggressive toward major digital platforms that allow open communication. Writing on X, he said French authorities were criminally prosecuting social networks such as Telegram, X, and TikTok for giving users “some degree of freedom,” adding that observers should not mistake France for a free country. His comments quickly drew attention as a rare public rebuke of a leading EU state by a prominent tech executive.
The Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed that both Elon Musk and former X chief executive Linda Yaccarino have been summoned to Paris for voluntary interviews scheduled for April. The investigation in France comes amid growing scrutiny of X across Europe. Last month, the European Commission and the UK’s telecommunications regulator Ofcom announced parallel probes into the platform after Grok’s integration enabled users to create sexualized deepfake images, including depictions involving minors.
Regulators have already penalized X financially, with the European Commission issuing a €150 million fine in December for breaching transparency obligations under EU digital regulations. Officials argue the measures are necessary to protect users and enforce existing laws, while critics contend they risk overreach and political interference.
Durov has framed the investigations as part of a coordinated EU effort to bring social media companies into compliance through pressure and enforcement, particularly those he says refuse to “silently censor free speech.” His remarks are colored by his own recent experience with French authorities. In 2024, he was arrested in Paris over allegations that Telegram failed to adequately deter criminal activity on its platform. Durov has consistently denied wrongdoing, claiming his detention was politically motivated and intended to coerce him into suppressing conservative voices ahead of elections in Romania.
As European regulators intensify their oversight of major digital platforms, the clash between governments and tech leaders is increasingly playing out in public. Durov’s denunciation of France underscores a growing ideological divide over how far states should go in policing online content, and whether such efforts protect society or undermine the very freedoms they claim to defend.
