Telegram founder Pavel Durov accused EU and UK authorities of offering social media CEOs secret deals to suppress dissent, claiming “child protection” serves as cover for censorship. X (Twitter) owner Elon Musk publicly backed him.
Durov’s statements came the same day French prosecutors summoned Musk for a voluntary interview over allegations that X facilitated child abuse material and deepfakes.
Durov Claims Regulators Use Children as PR Shield
In a series of posts, Durov laid out what he described as a pattern across European governments. He alleged that authorities first approach platform CEOs with informal agreements to restrict content.
Those who refuse face criminal proceedings justified under child protection laws.
“When people push back, say it’s “all for the children”. “Protecting children” has become the standard legal/PR cover,” Durov expressed.
Further, Durov argues that child safety rhetoric exploits parental instincts to bypass critical thinking about surveillance and digital rights.
Durov himself was arrested at a Paris airport in August 2024 and indicted on 12 charges, including alleged complicity in distributing child exploitation material.
His travel ban was lifted in November 2025, though the investigation continues. He recently revealed he faces more than a dozen charges, each carrying up to 10 years in prison.
Musk responded by agreeing with Durov’s criticism. He separately dismissed the French probe into X as a “political attack.”
The US Department of Justice rejected France’s request for assistance, calling it an effort to “entangle the United States in a politically charged criminal proceeding.”
The exchange followed UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s April 16 meeting at Downing Street, where he warned executives from X, Meta, Snap, YouTube, and TikTok that banning children from their platforms would be “preferable to a world where harm is the price” for social media use.
“I know parents are worried about social media and its impact on their children’s safety. They rightly expect fast action. Today, I’m calling on senior leaders from X, Meta, Snap, YouTube and TikTok to step up. I will do whatever it takes to keep children safe online,” Starmer articulated.
Whether European regulators are protecting children or consolidating control over digital platforms will likely remain contested as France’s investigation into X and Durov’s ongoing case both advance in the months ahead.
