According to a report on Telegram, Apple has removed the messaging app from the App Store globally, blocking new downloads. Existing users can still use the app. No official explanation from Apple or Telegram has been provided. The report follows an earlier brief removal over CSAM, which Apple said was resolved.
A new report circulating on Telegram early Tuesday morning indicates that Apple has removed the messaging app from the App Store globally, blocking new downloads. The development comes just hours after a previous removal and restoration cycle over child sexual abuse material (CSAM), which Apple confirmed was resolved. As of 07:47 Jerusalem, no official statement has been issued by Apple or Telegram regarding this latest report.
The Zioneer first reported at 04:45 Jerusalem that Telegram had disappeared from the App Store in multiple countries, including Russia and the United States. Within minutes, reports indicated the app had been restored. At 06:57 Jerusalem, Apple provided a full statement to Bloomberg, confirming that the earlier removal was due to content violating CSAM guidelines and that the app was restored after Telegram removed the offending content and blocked the user. The Zioneer reported the development at 06:48.
Apple's enforcement of its App Store guidelines has led to previous removals, including the removal of the Russian social-media app VK in June 2026, as The Zioneer reported. Telegram, with nearly a billion users, has been under scrutiny for content moderation.
The authenticity of the new report of a global removal remains unverified. The Zioneer has reached out to Apple and Telegram for comment but has not received a response. It is unclear whether the removal is related to the earlier CSAM incident or a separate issue, and no restoration has been reported as of this writing.
4 developments
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- DevelopingWhatsApp to stop working on millions of devices starting today
- DevelopingCause of Telegram link outage clarified: accidental t.me block from misinterpreted US Treasury order
- StrongTelegram blocks official IRGC spokesperson account; IRGC says block shows 'fear of Iran's enemies'
Source and signal
- Open-source intake