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Technology

Why Apple removed Telegram from App Store, Pavel Durov explains

hellohimachalse@gmail.com 05 Aug 2026 54 min ago

New Delhi: Telegram founder and chief executive Pavel Durov has blamed a “takedown extortionist” for the messaging app’s brief removal from Apple’s App Store. Telegram disappeared from the store in several countries before returning within hours.

Apple said the action followed the discovery of child sexual abuse material shared by one user. Telegram removed the content and blocked the account, after which Apple restored the app. Existing Telegram users could continue using the service during the brief removal.

How illegal content was allegedly planted on Telegram

In a post on X, Durov claimed the attacker used AI-modified illegal material and placed it inside an old message in an active public group.

“Because Telegram quickly removes illegal content from public groups using all kinds of moderation tools, the attacker had to resort to a technical trick,” Durov wrote.

According to him, the person edited a backdated message. This kept the content away from the normal flow of new messages, making it harder for group members to notice and report.

“He inserted AI-modified illegal content by editing an old message in an active group chat. As a result the content was effectively hidden from the group’s members, preventing them from seeing/reporting it,” Durov said.

His account of the incident has been reported by multiple technology publications. Apple has confirmed the content violation and the app’s restoration, but it has not publicly verified every detail of Durov’s extortion claim.

What is a takedown extortion attack?

Durov described the attacker as someone who targets public online communities and demands money from their owners. When payment is refused, automated accounts allegedly plant banned material and report it directly to an app store or platform.

This creates a difficult situation for apps that host posts, groups, videos and other user-generated material. One malicious upload can lead to action against the complete service.

“Apple removed Telegram from the App Store before contacting us,” Durov wrote.

“If an app used by more than a billion people can be removed from the App Store without prior warning, any app can be.”

Telegram says it has more than one billion monthly users. The company has faced repeated questions over criminal content, moderation and the way large public channels are managed.

Telegram warns other app developers

Durov said such attacks could affect social networks, gaming communities, forums and communication apps where users can post their own material.

He urged developers to watch for edited old posts, organised reporting campaigns and automated accounts. Telegram said the incident showed that takedown tactics are becoming harder to spot.

The Telegram app is currently available again on Apple’s App Store. The episode is likely to renew debate over how quickly app stores should act against illegal content and whether developers should be contacted before an entire service is removed.

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