Telegram CEO Claims Extortionist Planted CSAM to Get App Removed from App Store

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has accused an extortionist of planting child sexual abuse material (CSAM) in a public chat, which he claims led to the app's temporary removal from Apple's App Store on Monday night. In a post on X, Durov stated, "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. If an app used by more than a billion people can be removed from the App Store without prior warning, any app can be." He added, "Extortionists have found a way to manipulate Apple into overreacting." Apple has not yet responded to requests for comment. The incident raises concerns about the power of app store gatekeepers and the vulnerability of platforms that rely on user-generated content.