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Apple has pulled popular encrypted messenger app Telegram from the App Store, following reports of "inappropriate content" hosted on the platform that violated Apple's developer guidelines for iOS apps.
Users first noted Telegram's absence late on Wednesday via Reddit, after App Store searches for the app began returning results for Viber, Skype, and Messenger instead. Both the original app and experimental offshoot Telegram X still don't appear on the App Store at the time of writing.
The exact reason for the apps' removal isn't yet clear, but Telegram founder Pavel Durov responded to a tweet on Thursday by explaining that the company was alerted by Apple to "inappropriate content" made available to users of both apps, which led to them being pulled.
We were alerted by Apple that inappropriate content was made available to our users and both apps were taken off the App Store. Once we have protections in place we expect the apps to be back on the App Store. — Pavel Durov (@durov) February 1, 2018
Apple's review guidelines include a section on user safety that prohibits "upsetting or offensive content", while a sub-section covering user-generated content requires that the relevant apps include:
• A method for filtering objectionable material from being posted to the app
• A mechanism to report offensive content and timely responses to concerns
• The ability to block abusive users from the service
• Published contact information so users can easily reach youApps with user-generated content or services that end up being used primarily for pornographic content, objectification of real people (e.g. “hot-or-not” voting), making physical threats, or bullying do not belong on the App Store and may be removed without notice.
We'll update this post if we hear more details on the situation.
Update: At around 8:00 a.m. PT, company CEO Pavel Durov tweeted that Telegram is now back on the iOS App Store.
Top Rated Comments
We were alerted by Apple that inappropriate content was made available to our users and both apps were taken off the App Store.
Apple should shut down internet, it is filled with inappropriate content!No you don't. It's a private encrypted messaging app. Can be anything from trade secrets to rape to child pornography. Same applies to all messaging apps that are currently still available and provide exactly the same facilities.
YES, I do need more information, what's so hard to understand about that?For the very reasons you state... I need more information from Apple why they chose to pull this app specifically and not others if I am going to understand and have an informed opinion about their actions.
You don't need more information. We know how these apps works and we know that anything can transferred using those apps. I'm pretty sure there are people using iMessage for child pornography.
You may not need more information, but I do... for the very reason you stateMany things are transferred by Messages and through email and other apps yet they are still available
What makes this different?
Yes, I need more information to make a judgement about Apple's action here