Durov, Musk Accuse EU/UK of Using “Child Safety” to Censor Social Media

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Pavel Durov, Elon Musk Accuse EU/UK of Using “Child Safety” to Pressure Social Media CEOs

Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, alleges that European and UK officials have been making secret agreements with social media company leaders to silence opposing viewpoints, using “child protection” as a pretext for censorship. Elon Musk, owner of X (formerly Twitter), has publicly supported these claims.

The news from Durov arrived on the same day French authorities asked Elon Musk to voluntarily meet with them to discuss claims that X allowed the spread of harmful content, including child abuse material and deepfakes.

Durov Claims Regulators Use Children as PR Shield

Pavel Durov explained in a series of posts that he’s noticed a trend among European governments. He claims they often start by privately asking platform leaders to limit certain content.

Those who refuse face criminal proceedings justified under child protection laws.

Pavel Durov noted that when challenged, some individuals often deflect by claiming their actions are “for the children.” He explained that framing something as “protecting children” is now a common tactic used for legal and public relations purposes.

Pavel Durov also points out that discussions about child safety are often used to appeal to parents’ emotions, leading them to overlook important concerns about privacy and digital freedoms.

Using the idea of ‘child safety’ is a powerful way to manipulate people because it appeals to our deepest instincts and stops us from thinking clearly. It’s a guaranteed way to control large groups by creating fear and outrage.

— Pavel Durov (@durov) April 20, 2026

In August 2024, Pavel Durov was arrested at a Paris airport and faced 12 charges, including accusations of involvement in the distribution of child exploitation material.

The restrictions on his travel were removed in November 2025, but the investigation is still ongoing. He recently stated that he is facing over a dozen charges, and each one could result in a prison sentence of up to 10 years.

Telegram operates within the laws of the European Union, including the Digital Services Act, and its content moderation practices are in line with industry standards and are continuously being enhanced. Telegram CEO Pavel Durov is open and transparent, regularly traveling throughout Europe. Claims suggesting otherwise are unfounded.

— Telegram Messenger (@telegram) August 25, 2024

Musk sided with Durov’s complaints and also called the French investigation into X a politically motivated attack.

🎯

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 20, 2026

As an analyst, I’ve reviewed the Department of Justice’s response to France’s request for help, and they’ve denied it. Essentially, the US government believes France was trying to involve us in a criminal case that’s more political than legal, and they didn’t want any part of it.

Following a meeting on April 16th at Downing Street, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer told leaders from X, Meta, Snap, YouTube, and TikTok that he’d rather see children banned from their platforms than allow them to be harmed by social media.

Parents are understandably concerned about the dangers social media poses to their children and expect quick responses to those concerns. Today, Keir Starmer is urging the leaders of X, Meta, Snap, YouTube, and TikTok to take greater responsibility for protecting children online, and he’s pledged to do everything necessary to ensure their safety.

It’s unclear whether investigations into X and its founder, Pavel Durov, by European regulators are truly meant to protect children, or if they represent an attempt to increase control over online platforms. This debate will likely continue as these cases develop in the coming months.

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2026-04-21 14:21