Pavel Durov has accused the French authorities of leading an EU-wide push to screen online communication

France is leading an EU effort to scan private messages, Telegram founder Pavel Durov said on Tuesday. The bloc recently delayed the proposed "Chat Control" law over privacy concerns after Germany opposed the plan, the Russian-born billionaire stressed.

The proposed legislation, intended to combat child sexual abuse material (CSAM), would require digital platforms to detect and report harmful content, including messages protected by end-to-end encryption. While EU officials have presented it as a tool to protect children online, critics argue that it risks enabling mass surveillance and seriously undermining digital privacy.

Durov shared a message Telegram sent to its French users, accusing politicians of supporting what he described as "an authoritarian law." The post mentioned both current and former interior ministers, Laurent Nunez and Bruno Retailleau, as backers of the legislation that claims to "fight crime," but targets regular people.

"Today, we defended privacy: Germany's sudden stand saved our rights. But freedoms are still threatened. While French leaders push for total access to private messages, the basic rights of French people - and all Europeans - remain in danger," the message reads.

The billionaire added that the proposed measure exempts officials and police messages, adding that it would fail to stop criminals that could just use VPNs or special websites to hide.

The legislation, often referred to as "Chat Control," was shelved earlier this week over worries it could undermine fundamental privacy rights. Luxembourg, Austria, Germany and Poland had previously voiced strong opposition, warning that the bill could set a dangerous precedent for scanning all forms of online communication and threaten fundamental privacy rights.

READ MORE: West turning internet into 'tool of control' - Telegram founder

Durov, who has repeatedly clashed with Western governments, has faced legal pressure in Europe over Telegram's content policies. Last year, the entrepreneur was arrested in Paris and charged with complicity in crimes linked to Telegram users, but was released on bail. He called the case politically motivated.

The Telegram founder has also accused French intelligence of pressuring him to suppress conservative voices during elections in Moldova and Romania. According to Durov, EU laws such as the Digital Services Act and the AI Act are paving the way for the centralized control of information.