Pavel Durov says Apple removed Telegram from App Store without warning, claims iPhone maker overreacted
Follow UsTelegram recently disappeared from Apple’s App Store in several countries.
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has shared what led to the App Store removal.
He also claimed Apple removed Telegram without "prior warning."
Telegram recently disappeared from Apple’s App Store for a short time in several countries. Many iPhone and iPad users reported that they were not able to find Telegram through App Store searches. The app was restored within hours, and Apple later said it had removed Telegram after finding content that violated its rules against child sexual abuse material. Now, Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has shared his version of what happened. He also claimed Apple removed Telegram without “prior warning.” Keep reading for the details.
SurveyTelegram CEO Pavel Durov explained what happened
In a post on X, Durov explained that the problem began after a user posted illegal AI-modified pornographic content by editing an old message in a public Telegram group. According to him, the edited message was “effectively hidden” from other members of the group, which prevented them from seeing or reporting it.
He claimed the person behind the incident was a “takedown extortionist.” According to Durov, such attackers demand money from group owners and threaten to get their communities removed if they refuse to pay. He said they use automated accounts to secretly post illegal content and then report it directly to Apple in an attempt to “trigger the removal of legitimate communities.”
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Last night Apple briefly removed Telegram from the AppStore because a user had planted illegal porn in a public chat.
— Pavel Durov (@durov) August 4, 2026
Telegram was restored within hours. But I want to explain what happened — to warn other app developers and help protect online communities from similar attacks.…
Durov says Apple’s move creates risks
Durov argued that the incident does not show a wider moderation problem on Telegram. Instead, he said it proves that the platform’s moderation system is effective because attackers had to use hidden and backdated content to avoid detection.
He also criticised Apple’s response. “Extortionists have found a way to manipulate Apple into overreacting. Apple removed Telegram from the App Store before contacting us,” Durov wrote. He added that this creates “a potential systemic risk for every mobile app that hosts user-generated content.”
According to Durov, if an app used by more than a billion people can be removed without prior warning, then other platforms that rely on user-generated content could face similar risks.
Telegram warns other app developers
Durov also said that online extortion groups are using more advanced methods to target online communities. He claimed Telegram has gained experience in identifying these tactics and protecting legitimate groups, even if doing so sometimes puts the app itself at risk.
