01.06.2026 Oslo #OsloFF The CEO of Telegram platform Pavel Durov warned about dangerous crossroads of democracy, and freedom in his speech at Oslo Freedom Forum. The control of the information flied remains a seductive idea not only for dictatorships, but also for the leaders in democratic societies in the West.
Durov shared his painful experience in France where the secret services, attempting to convince his to open access to private data of the users, pointed to the need of defeating terrorism.
Pavel Durov is a technology entrepreneur known for championing digital privacy and freedom of expression. He is the founder and CEO of Telegram, a globally popular encrypted messaging platform designed to protect users’ communications from surveillance. Before launching Telegram, Durov founded VKontakte (VK), which became Russia’s largest and most influential social network.
Durov left Russia in hope to develop his projects, benefiting from the “Free World” advantages. However he faced the grim reality of totalitarian impulses of the Western leaders. Next to his own experience of being hostage to the French secret services, he pointed to the unfortunate interaction between the European Commission and Elon Musk. First he was offered the favours in exchange for surrendering the private data of his users, but when he refused, he faced mega fines for breaching the EU legislation. The two track approaches are clearly readable between the lines: sticks and carrots in action.
The alarming part of the story is the absence of clear paths to preserve civil freedoms, which are in peril mounting to Orwell dystopia. All the way paved by good intentions to save children, or neutralise the terrorists.
The criminals will be fine, Durov ensures, they will find their ways, but the civil liberties will be compromised under the pretext of care for the good cause.
Among the dangers of transparency of private data are abuses which already started to manifest themselves in sales of personal data by the civil servants, incapable of resisting the seduction.
The Paris investigating chamber rejected an appeal for release Monday from a French tax administration employee who prosecutors accuse of selling confidential information about cryptocurrency investors to criminal organizations.
Ghalia C., 32, has been detained since June 30, 2025, facing charges of complicity in violence against a public official and criminal conspiracy. Investigators examining her workstation at the Bobigny tax office uncovered searches specifically targeting cryptocurrency specialists and investors, whose personal data she allegedly sold to criminals for physical attacks and extortion.
