Telegram was removed from the App Store briefly Monday after CSAM was posted by a user. The app was restored after the content was removed.
Telegram is known widely as a secure alternative to Messenger, WhatsApp, and iMessage. Its cross-platform availability and options for end-to-end encryption have made it attractive to privacy and security-conscious users.
Reports began showing up across social media of Telegram disappearing from the Apple App Store around 9:30 p.m. EST on Monday night. Users searching the App Store or opening a direct link to the app showed that it was no longer available.
Apple shared a statement with AppleInsider regarding the removal:
We briefly removed Telegram from the App Store after our review found content that violates our strict guidelines prohibiting child sexual abuse material. The app was subsequently restored after the developer promptly removed the content and banned the user who posted it.
The app was likely pulled suddenly to ensure it couldn’t be downloaded by new users while the content was being removed. Apple has a history of taking fast action blocking app downloads when CSAM is discovered on the platform with only one notable exception.
When users were actively generating sexualized images of minors on the social media app X, it remained active throughout. It isn’t clear why swift action was taken with Telegram versus X.
Users that had Telegram already installed were not affected by the app’s removal. Telegram was restored to the App Store at around 10:10 p.m EST.
Updated August 4, 1:50 a.m EST: added Apple’s statement on why Telegram was removed.
