Pavel Durov Says “Extortionists Have Found a Way to Manipulate Apple” After Telegram Was Briefly Removed From the App Store

Pavel Durov Says Apple Overreacted After Telegram App Store Removal

Telegram founder Pavel Durov has defended the messaging platform after Apple briefly removed it from the App Store over content that breached its policies on child sexual abuse material (CSAM), arguing that the company acted before fully understanding what had happened.

The app, which Telegram says serves between 950 million and one billion users, was unavailable for new downloads and updates for a short period.

Existing users who already had Telegram installed were able to continue using the service without interruption.

Apple later restored the app after the offending content was removed and the account responsible was banned.

Durov Blames Takedown Extortionists

Durov said the incident was not the result of Telegram failing to moderate its platform, but rather a deliberate attempt by a malicious actor to exploit Apple's review process.

In a statement shared on X and his personal Telegram channel, Durov claimed the attacker edited an old message in an active public group to insert "AI-modified illegal content".

According to him, the tactic allowed the material to remain hidden from group members, preventing users from spotting and reporting it before Apple intervened.

"Extortionists have found a way to manipulate Apple into overreacting. Apple removed Telegram from the App Store before contacting us. This creates a potential systemic risk for every mobile app that hosts user-generated content."

Durov described the individual as a "takedown extortionist" who allegedly plants illegal material before threatening communities with removal unless they pay a ransom.

He claimed such attackers use automated accounts to report their own posts directly to Apple in an effort to trigger enforcement action.

"These extortionists use automated accounts to plant illegal content in public groups and then report it directly to Apple, attempting to trigger the removal of legitimate communities whose owners refused to pay them."

Apple Restored Telegram After Content Was Removed

Apple said it temporarily removed Telegram after discovering content that violated its policies on CSAM distribution.

According to the company, Telegram removed the material and banned the user responsible after the issue was identified, allowing the app to return to the App Store.

Telegram also questioned Apple's handling of the situation publicly, asking on X whether the same safety standards would be applied consistently across every app on the platform.

Company spokesperson Remi Vaughn criticised the temporary removal, saying Apple disrupted communication for around a billion users because of the actions of a single individual.

A Familiar Clash Between Apple And Telegram

This is not the first time Telegram has been removed from Apple's marketplace.

Apple also pulled the app from the App Store in 2018 over inappropriate content before restoring it once the issue had been addressed.

The latest dispute arrives as Telegram and Durov continue to face growing regulatory pressure in multiple countries.

French authorities arrested Durov in 2024 and charged him with enabling illegal transactions and complicity in the distribution of CSAM.

Telegram later disabled several features it said had been abused and changed how it manages private chats. Durov remains under formal investigation in France.

Elsewhere, Australia has launched legal action accusing Telegram of failing to remove terrorism-related material, while Russia placed Durov on its list of terrorists and extremists and has accused him of refusing to remove content linked to criminal activity.

Durov has rejected those claims, saying he was targeted for refusing demands for mass surveillance and censorship on Telegram.

Who Should Carry The Responsibility

The dispute raises a wider question that extends beyond Telegram.

As AI tools become more capable of creating and hiding illegal content, platforms, app stores and regulators are increasingly being forced to decide who should bear responsibility when bad actors exploit moderation systems.

Coinlive believes the debate is no longer just about Telegram or Apple.

If malicious users can manipulate moderation systems to force app store removals, every platform that relies on user-generated content could face the same risk, making faster responses important but careful verification equally critical.