Apple reinstated Telegram on its App Store late last week after the messaging platform swiftly removed illegal material flagged by the tech giant's compliance team. A single user had distributed child sexual abuse content through the service.
Telegram's moderation team moved fast. They permanently suspended the offending account and purged all flagged material within hours of Apple's notice. The company confirmed it had fulfilled every corrective measure Apple required before the app returned to the store.
This wasn't the first time Telegram tackled such violations. The platform eliminated over 337,900 groups and channels tied to child exploitation during 2026 alone. Another 29,640 removals happened throughout 2025 following alerts from child safety organizations.
Gram, the cryptocurrency linked to Telegram's ecosystem, took a quick hit during the ban. The token dropped 6.4% in early trading, sliding from $1.41 to $1.32. Once Apple reversed course, Gram bounced back to nearly $1.40 by day's end.
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney seized on the incident to blast Apple's control over app distribution. He argued the company wields too much power over access to essential communication tools, a criticism that echoes his ongoing legal battles with the iPhone maker.
Telegram continues facing legal pressure elsewhere. The messaging service is tangled in disputes with authorities in Russia, France, and Australia over content moderation and government access demands.
This article is informational only and does not constitute financial advice. Cryptocurrency markets are volatile and investment decisions should be based on personal research and risk tolerance.
