Telegram founder Pavel Durov accused EU and UK authorities of providing social media CEOs secret offers to suppress dissent, claiming “baby safety” serves as cowl for censorship. X (Twitter) proprietor Elon Musk publicly backed him.
Durov’s statements got here the identical day French prosecutors summoned Musk for a voluntary interview over allegations that X facilitated baby abuse materials and deepfakes.
Durov Claims Regulators Use Kids as PR Protect
In a collection of posts, Durov laid out what he described as a sample throughout European governments. He alleged that authorities first strategy platform CEOs with casual agreements to limit content material.
Those that refuse face prison proceedings justified beneath baby safety legal guidelines.
“When folks push again, say it’s “all for the youngsters”. “Defending kids” has grow to be the usual authorized/PR cowl,” Durov expressed.
Additional, Durov argues that baby security rhetoric exploits parental instincts to bypass crucial fascinated with surveillance and digital rights.
Durov himself was arrested at a Paris airport in August 2024 and indicted on 12 fees, together with alleged complicity in distributing baby exploitation materials.
His journey ban was lifted in November 2025, although the investigation continues. He lately revealed he faces greater than a dozen fees, every carrying as much as 10 years in jail.
Musk responded by agreeing with Durov’s criticism. He individually dismissed the French probe into X as a “political assault.”
The US Division of Justice rejected France’s request for help, calling it an effort to “entangle the US in a politically charged prison continuing.”
The trade adopted UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s April 16 assembly at Downing Avenue, the place he warned executives from X, Meta, Snap, YouTube, and TikTok that banning kids from their platforms could be “preferable to a world the place hurt is the value” for social media use.
“I do know mother and father are frightened about social media and its affect on their kids’s security. They rightly anticipate quick motion. At this time, I’m calling on senior leaders from X, Meta, Snap, YouTube and TikTok to step up. I’ll do no matter it takes to maintain kids protected on-line,” Starmer articulated.
Whether or not European regulators are defending kids or consolidating management over digital platforms will possible stay contested as France’s investigation into X and Durov’s ongoing case each advance within the months forward.
The put up Pavel Durov, Elon Musk Accuse EU/UK of Utilizing “Baby Security” to Stress Social Media CEOs appeared first on BeInCrypto.