Telegram has defended its record on tackling child sexual abuse material (CSAM) after Apple briefly removed the messaging platform from its App Store. The company said the action followed a report from Apple that a single user had shared illegal content. Telegram said the account was immediately banned and rejected suggestions that it fails to act against abusive material.
According to the platform, it has removed more than 337,900 groups and channels linked to CSAM in 2026 alone. It also pointed to its public safety transparency page detailing enforcement measures against such content. Telegram added that in 2025 it had taken down 29,640 groups and channels after receiving reports from non-governmental organisations, including the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC).
Telegram questions Apple
Following the temporary removal, Telegram publicly questioned Apple's approach to enforcing its App Store rules. In a post on X, the company tagged Apple and suggested that similar standards should be applied consistently across all apps available on the platform.
Although the messaging app was reinstated shortly afterwards, the episode reignited debate over Apple's authority to suspend applications from its digital marketplace and the consistency of its moderation policies.
Tim Sweeney joins criticism
Epic Games chief executive Tim Sweeney criticised Apple's decision, arguing that the App Store requires greater competition worldwide. A long-time critic of Apple's App Store policies, Sweeney said removing Telegram effectively restricted access to an important communication and privacy platform for nearly one billion users.
He argued that Apple justified the suspension because one user had uploaded illegal content, but warned that allowing a platform owner to make such decisions creates uncertainty for developers. According to Sweeney, developers may feel compelled to accept Apple's decisions because of the company's control over access to iPhone users.
Wider regulatory scrutiny
The incident has intensified the broader debate over platform responsibility, content moderation and Apple's influence over app distribution. Apple maintains that it can remove applications when serious illegal content is detected, while Telegram insists it actively removes abusive material and has strengthened its moderation efforts.
The controversy also comes at a time when Telegram and its founder, Pavel Durov, are facing legal and regulatory scrutiny in multiple countries, including Russia, Australia and France. While the app has since returned to the App Store, the episode has added fresh momentum to discussions over App Store governance, competition and the balance between platform safety and developer rights.