Telegram back on Apple App Store after disappearing worldwide
Apple said Telegram was restored after a review found CSAM and the app removed the offending content, while existing iPhone installations kept working.
- On Monday, Apple briefly removed Telegram from the global App Store after alleging it contained content violating child sexual abuse material guidelines. The app was restored later that night once Telegram removed the flagged content and banned the user responsible.
- Telegram highlighted its extensive safety efforts, removing more than 337,900 groups and channels related to CSAM in 2026 and 29,640 removals in 2025 after reports from NGOs including the Missing & Exploited Children center.
- Despite the removal, existing users maintained uninterrupted access to Telegram's chats and functionality. Telegram's official account responded by tweeting, "reports of my demise are greatly exaggerated," then challenged Apple's enforcement consistency across the App Store.
- Epic Games CEO Sweeney, a vocal critic of Apple's 30% App Store fee, condemned the removal, arguing Apple removed Telegram "from availability to a billion users" over one violation, calling it "arbitrary policy enforcement, by a monopoly gatekeeper."
- Monday's removal marks the latest in a series of Telegram removals across platforms and regions, including a 2024 removal from the Chinese App Store alongside WhatsApp and Signal, and a 2023 temporary ban in Brazil. Telegram remains available through Google Play and the Mac App Store.
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147 Articles
According to him, the attackers allegedly hid AI-modified pornographic content in an old public group message and then complained about it to Apple.
Apple Pulled Telegram From the App Store Worldwide Over a Single User Post
by Cindy Harper, Reclaim The Net: Apple removed Telegram from the App Store worldwide on Monday night, then restored it roughly 40 minutes later. “We briefly removed Telegram from the App Store after our review found content that violates our strict guidelines prohibiting child sexual abuse material,” Apple said in a statement sent to several outlets. “The […]
Apple briefly drops Telegram from App Store after planted illegal content
Removal hit an app used by more than a billion people, and Apple made no contact first. Extortion crews now aim reports at app stores, not just at platforms. Continue reading this article on ppc.land. Sign up the PPC Land newsletter to get the latest marketing news.
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