Encrypted Messaging Service Telegram Temporarily Booted from Apple’s App Store

Popular encrypted messaging service Telegram was temporarily removed from Apple’s App Store for “inappropriate content” on Wednesday.

The app was absent from the App Store between Wednesday and Thursday, along with the new Telegram X app, with its creators being alerted that the removal was due to “inappropriate content” found.

“We were alerted by Apple that inappropriate content was made available to our users and both apps were taken off the App Store,” explained Telegram CEO Pavel Durov. “Once we have protections in place we expect the apps to be back on the App Store.”

We were alerted by Apple that inappropriate content was made available to our users and both apps were taken off the App Store. Once we have protections in place we expect the apps to be back on the App Store.

— Pavel Durov (@durov) February 1, 2018

As reported by the Verge, it is currently unknown “what inappropriate content was found on the messaging service.”

Both apps returned to the App Store on Thursday.

Telegram is back in the AppStore after being absent there since midnight CET.

Every day 500,000+ users download Telegram for Android and another ~100,000 download Telegram for iOS.

Check out yesterday’s update for both platforms: https://t.co/AVsELnpOGK

— Pavel Durov (@durov) February 1, 2018

 

Telegram, which boasts ultra-private, secure, and encrypted messaging on its service, has frequently been used by dissidents across the world.

The app has been utilized by Iranian dissidents, journalists, and protesters, prompting the Iranian government to ban parts of the app and attempt to ban the entire service.

Telegram has also been used by ISIS, however, and the company has faced criticism for not removing accounts of Islamic extremists fast enough.