Durov says extortionists tricked Apple into pulling Telegram

Apple briefly removed @telegram from the App Store on Monday night after a review found content that violated its guidelines against child sexual abuse material (CSAM), but restored the app a short while later. The removal lasted roughly 40 minutes, and the app was restored after Telegram deleted the offending content and banned the user responsible.

Durov Points the Finger at Organised Extortion

@durov did not accept the episode at face value. He alleged that an attacker deliberately planted illegal content in a public group, then reported it directly to Apple, as part of a coordinated extortion scheme targeting group owners who refuse to pay ransom. "These extortionists use automated accounts to plant illegal content in public groups," Durov warned, describing the tactic as a "systemic risk" for all apps hosting user-generated content.

"Extortionists have found a way to manipulate Apple into overreacting," Durov wrote, adding that Apple removed the platform without contacting Telegram first. Telegram, which counts more than a billion monthly active users, maintains a zero-tolerance policy on such material and said it has blocked nearly 338,000 groups and channels for related content this year.

Apple Confirms the Facts, Declines to Address the Extortion Claim

An Apple spokesperson confirmed the brief removal, stating that its review found content violating guidelines that prohibit child sexual abuse material, and that "the app was subsequently restored after the developer promptly removed the content and banned the user who posted it." Apple did not address Durov's extortion allegation publicly.

The incident is not without precedent. In February 2018, Apple pulled Telegram globally after flagging "inappropriate content" being distributed through certain channels, restoring it once Telegram implemented additional content protections. The latest removal drew fresh criticism of Apple's App Store governance. Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney, a longtime critic of App Store policy, argued on X that the takedown showed the need for more competition in app distribution, writing: "Apple's App Store desperately needs competition worldwide."

The episode also lands at a difficult moment for @durov personally. Russian authorities recently charged Durov with aiding terrorism, while in 2024 French authorities indicted him on multiple criminal charges linked to the distribution of illegal material and fraud on Telegram. Telegram has denied the allegations, stating that Durov "has nothing to hide" and calling it "absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform."

Sources:
The National: Telegram's Durov says 'extortionists' pushed Apple to remove messaging platform from App Store
MacRumors: Telegram Briefly Removed From App Store
Forbes: Telegram Briefly Removed From App Store Over Alleged Child Sexual Abuse Content