Pavel Durov

Telegram was briefly delisted from the Apple App Store before returning within hours, with CEO Pavel Durov claiming the incident was triggered by what he described as a "takedown extortionist."

The messaging platform's temporary removal prompted questions about Apple's moderation process and Telegram's handling of illegal content reported on the service.

Telegram Briefly Removed From Apple App Store

Apple temporarily removed Telegram from the App Store after identifying content that violated its developer guidelines. According to reports, the issue involved child sexual abuse material (CSAM) that appeared within a public Telegram group. Telegram said it removed the content, banned the account responsible, and worked with Apple to restore the app.

The temporary removal primarily affected new downloads through the Apple App Store. Users who already had Telegram installed on their devices were generally able to continue using the service while the issue was being resolved.

Reuters reported that the app returned to the App Store shortly after Telegram addressed the reported violation and complied with Apple's requirements.

CEO Pavel Durov Blames 'Takedown Extortionist'

After Telegram was reinstated, CEO Pavel Durov said the incident was the result of an individual intentionally exploiting Apple's reporting system.

In a post on Telegram, Durov alleged that a "takedown extortionist" uploaded illegal content into a public group and then rapidly reported it to Apple before Telegram's moderation team could remove the material.

Durov said the content had allegedly been hidden within an edited message, making it more difficult for moderators to detect immediately. He added that the tactic was designed to trigger the platform's removal from the Apple App Store rather than simply report harmful content.

The Verge noted that Durov warned similar tactics could potentially be used against other platforms that host user-generated content.

Apple and Telegram Responded to the Incident

Telegram stated that it acted quickly after receiving notice of the violating content by removing the material and banning the responsible account. Apple restored the app after the company addressed the issue.

Apple has not publicly confirmed Durov's allegation regarding a "takedown extortionist." The company has long required developers to remove illegal content from their apps to remain available on the App Store.

Apple's App Store Review Guidelines require developers to actively moderate user-generated content and respond promptly to reports involving illegal or harmful material.

Previous App Store Removal

This is not the first time Telegram has been removed from the Apple App Store. In 2018, Apple temporarily pulled Telegram after identifying inappropriate content that violated App Store policies. The app later returned after Telegram introduced additional moderation measures.

Engadget reported that Durov believes the latest incident highlights how reporting systems can be manipulated if malicious actors intentionally upload prohibited material before submitting reports to platform operators and app marketplaces.

Originally published on Itech Post