For the past few years, messaging platform Telegram has been involved in controversies ranging from terrorist content being shared using the service, to the Russian government fining it for not giving up user data. A few months ago, the company also blocked a channel for broadcasting some audio content without the relevant copyright holder"s permission.
Now, Telegram has had two of its apps removed from Apple"s App Store for featuring "inappropriate content".
A few hours ago, Telegram launched the experimental Telegram X client using its newly available Telegram Database Library (TDLib). The application allows its developers to "quickly test new approaches and technologies", as its built entirely from scratch using a new code base; with legacy components from its previous apps being axed.
However, it appears that Apple has removed both the Telegram and the Telegram X applications from the App Store, citing "inappropriate content". Pavel Durov, the CEO of Telegram, tweeted the following regarding the move:
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
While the executive didn"t go into details regarding what the unsuitable content was, it is rather interesting to note that the applications are still available on Google Play, with Telegram X already amassing 100,000-500,000 downloads since its recent launch.
We have reached out to Apple and Telegram for details on the matter and will update if they respond.
Update: It appears that Telegram"s apps are back in the Apple App Store once again:
Telegram is back in the AppStore after being absent there since midnight CET.
— Pavel Durov (@durov) February 1, 2018
Every day 500,000+ users download Telegram for Android and another ~100,000 download Telegram for iOS.
Check out yesterday’s update for both platforms: https://t.co/AVsELnpOGK