French intelligence denies Durov’s claims of election interference in Romania
The French External Security Directorate (DGSE) has officially responded to the statement by Telegram messenger founder Pavel Durov regarding alleged interference in the Romanian presidential elections. In his Telegram post on Sunday, Durov claimed that he was supposedly approached with a request to “block conservative voices” in the country on the eve of the electoral process. However, French intelligence denied any involvement in such actions and refuted claims of pressure from their side. According to Durov, the head of DGSE – Nicolas Lerner – allegedly contacted him back in March, asking him to prohibit "conservative voices" in Romania on Telegram, which he claimed he refused to do. The messenger’s founder emphasized that his team did not block protestors and critics in Russia, Belarus, or Iran, and has no intention of doing so in Europe. These statements caused significant public resonance and raised questions not only about possible political meddling but also about Telegram’s role in contemporary electoral campaigns. In response to these claims, DGSE officially stated that it did not request Durov to ban any accounts related to the electoral process in Romania. The official statement emphasizes that the French intelligence agency indeed contacted the Telegram founder several times over the past years, but solely to remind him of his company's legal responsibilities to prevent terrorist acts, child pornography, and other criminal activities. This is a typical example of security services engaging with platforms to warn about potential threats, not interference in the political process. Overall, the situation surrounding these statements has sparked widespread discussion about tools of digital influence and the role of tech companies in electoral processes. Pavel Durov himself has repeatedly emphasized his commitment to principles of independence and freedom of speech, implying that any attempts at pressure or censorship are unacceptable. Regarding the elections in Bucharest, their final results confirmed the victory of pro-European candidate Nicuşor Dan, who received over 53.60% of the votes and thus secured a legitimate mandate from voters. His opponent, far-right politician George Simeon, conceded defeat and congratulated the winner on the conclusion of the electoral process. Overall, these events became one of the most discussed topics in the European information space, highlighting the importance of transparent and democratic procedures in modern politics. A more in-depth analysis of the entire situation and its implications can be found in a dedicated article about public opinion surveys conducted during the Romanian elections and their significance for the country's integration into the European Union. This once again confirms how modern technologies and political processes are closely intertwined, shaping the new face of European democracy in the 21st century.