The founder of Telegram denounces that Macron is pushing to end Europeans’ freedom and track their messages across all social networks

In a statement sent to Telegram users in France, the Russian entrepreneur warned that this measure—presented under the pretext of combating crime and child abuse—actually represented a direct threat to privacy and fundamental freedoms. Durov pointed out that French political figures such as former Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau and his successor Laurent Nuñez openly supported the initiative, as did the political parties The Republicans and the Renaissance group, linked to President Macron.

The founder of Telegram emphasized that, had it been approved, the regulation would have established a system of mass surveillance in which ordinary citizens would be the main victims, while public officials and security forces would be exempt from scrutiny. “Real criminals would continue to find ways to hide using VPNs or alternative encrypted services, but honest citizens would lose their right to privacy,” he noted.

Durov welcomed Germany’s intervention, which temporarily halted the vote on this law in the European Parliament, an action that, according to him, has momentarily preserved the right to privacy on the continent. However, he warned that digital freedoms remain under threat as long as governments like France insist on having full access to citizens’ private messages.

“Today we have defended privacy, but tomorrow they could try again,” Durov concluded, urging Europeans to remain vigilant against what he described as “an authoritarian drift disguised as protection.”