Apple temporarily removes Telegram from the App Store over child sexual abuse material

Apple briefly removed the Telegram app from the Apple App Store worldwide on Monday night after finding child sexual abuse material shared by one single user. Telegram removed the content and permanently banned the account, and the app was restored to the store later the same day.

Telegram criticized the suspension as disproportionate, arguing that one user’s actions disrupted access for more than one billion people. The company also questioned whether Apple would apply the same standard to other messaging platforms, including iMessage: "I'm sure this stance will be applied equally to all other apps in the store, in the future right? @Apple"

Telegram says it has a zero tolerance policy for child sexual abuse material and has removed more than 337,900 related groups and channels in 2026. The incident follows a similar App Store suspension in 2018, after which Telegram strengthened its content moderation safeguards.