(MENAFN) France is waging a "crusade" against free expression and innovation, Telegram founder Pavel Durov declared on Friday, following the launch of a formal investigation by French authorities into Elon Musk’s social media platform X. According to Durov, rather than criminalizing tech platforms, officials in Paris should prioritize dialogue with the companies involved.

Describing French regulators as overreaching, the Russian-born entrepreneur warned that their approach would “scare off investment and damage the country’s economic growth for decades,” he posted on X.

The French probe into X was initiated on Friday after two formal complaints—one from a French parliamentarian and another from a senior government cybersecurity official—accused the platform of algorithmic manipulation allegedly aimed at “foreign interference.” Authorities claim these practices could undermine France’s democratic processes. Musk has not responded publicly to the investigation.

“A few prosecutors, driven by career ambitions or political motives, are jeopardizing the country’s future – launching criminal investigations into issues that could (and should) be resolved through clear regulation and cooperation with tech leaders,” Durov wrote in his online statement.

Durov is also facing legal action in France. He labeled the charges against him as “unprecedented.” In August 2024, he was arrested in France on allegations of being complicit in criminal activities by Telegram users, including cases involving extremism and child abuse. Although he was released on a €5 million ($5.46 million) bail, Durov remains under restricted judicial supervision.

In the wake of his arrest, Telegram updated its privacy terms, enabling the collection and retention of metadata—such as IP addresses, device details, and changes in usernames—for up to one year. This data may be shared with “relevant judicial authorities” if required.

Durov has consistently dismissed the accusations as groundless, and his legal counsel has called the charges “totally absurd.” The tech mogul has frequently criticized the European Union’s tightening control over digital platforms. In 2023, he said the EU was enforcing stricter media censorship than Russia after several major Russian news outlets’ Telegram channels were blocked across the bloc.

In May, Durov unveiled a collaboration with Musk’s startup xAI, introducing the Grok chatbot to Telegram users. Musk, in turn, praised Durov for resisting a request from the French government to restrict conservative political content on the messaging app.

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