Telegram founder Pavel Durov has been denied permission by a French judicial authority to travel to Norway for the upcoming Oslo Freedom Forum, a key global conference focused on human rights and digital liberties. The decision prevents Durov from delivering a planned address on digital surveillance, free expression, and the role of technology in resisting authoritarianism.
The Human Rights Foundation (HRF), organizer of the annual gathering, expressed deep disappointment at the ruling. Durov had been scheduled to speak on Tuesday, May 27, before an international audience of activists, journalists, and technologists.
“Technologies like Telegram are basic tools for those resisting tyranny,” said Thor Halvorssen, founder and CEO of the Human Rights Foundation. “This is more than a disappointment for our community; it is a setback for freedom.”
The travel restriction marks a reversal from previous court permissions, where French authorities had allowed Durov to attend international engagements despite ongoing legal scrutiny. Since August 2024, Durov has been subject to legal proceedings in France, following his arrest over alleged misuse of the Telegram platform by criminal actors. While he has not been directly charged with any criminal activity, French prosecutors continue to investigate platform liability in relation to user-generated content.
The court’s latest decision has disrupted Durov’s active engagement with global human rights defenders, many of whom had planned to collaborate with him in Oslo on improving Telegram’s utility for resistance movements operating under oppressive regimes.
Durov, who left Russia in 2014 after refusing to share user data with the country’s security services during the Ukrainian protests, has since become a high-profile advocate for digital privacy and secure communication. His leadership at Telegram has positioned the platform as a go-to tool for activists and whistleblowers across the world.
Observers warn that restricting figures like Durov from participating in human rights dialogues sends a concerning message about judicial overreach and the criminalization of digital platforms.
While Durov remains free on bail, the court’s decision underscores the mounting tension between state legal frameworks and the borderless nature of digital communication tools especially as governments grapple with issues of responsibility, regulation, and rights in the tech age.
As the Oslo Freedom Forum proceeds without one of its most anticipated speakers, global advocates for online freedom are left questioning the broader implications of the court’s move and what it means for the future of encrypted communication platforms under legal scrutiny.
