Telegram Founder Accuses French Government of Same Data Practices It Criticizes in X

Telegram founder Pavel Durov said the French government is engaging in the same data practices it has accused Elon Musk's X of performing. Durov listed four specific actions: illegally collecting personal data, processing personal data without proper security, extracting data from automated systems, and violating the secrecy of electronic communications.

The statements, reported Sunday by social media account @WatcherGuru, highlight what Durov described as inconsistencies in the government's position toward different technology platforms. The accusations come amid ongoing European regulatory scrutiny of U.S.-based social media companies.

French authorities have previously criticized X over data handling and content moderation practices. Durov's remarks suggest the government applies standards unevenly across platforms.

Union rules on digital services and data protection have led to multiple investigations of major technology firms. X has faced fines and demands related to user data collection and automated scraping. Telegram, which positions itself as a privacy-focused messaging service, has also encountered regulatory pressure in several European countries.

Durov's comments frame the French government's actions as equivalent to the very violations it attributes to X. No immediate response from French officials was included in the initial report. The exchange adds to public discussion about how governments collect and secure citizen data while simultaneously regulating private technology companies.

Further details on any formal complaints or legal actions were not provided in the available information.