Telegram was removed from the App Store
(Dan Tri) - On the morning of August 4 (Vietnam time), Telegram disappeared from Apple's App Store in Vietnam. Users in many other countries also reported similar situations.
Accordingly, when users search for the keyword "Telegram" on the App Store, the returned results do not appear this application at all. Currently, Apple has not provided any feedback on the above incident.
Telegram disappeared from the App Store (Photo: Engadget).
With iPhones that have Telegram pre-installed, users can still use this application to text normally. However, users will not be able to newly install the Telegram application for iPhone.
Meanwhile, Telegram still appears on Google's CH Play app store. Android phone users can download and install this application normally.
On July 29, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) announced that Mr. Pavel Durov, founder of the Telegram application, is wanted by Russia for allegedly letting Ukrainian special services recruit Russian citizens to participate in criminal activities through the Telegram platform.
The allegations were made within the framework of an investigation into a Telegram channel specializing in dating. According to the FSB, Ukrainian agents often impersonate girls intending to seek romantic relationships and only request small gifts from the potential subjects they approach.
After victims send gifts, they will continue to be pressured by subjects impersonating Russian law enforcement forces. These subjects accused the victims of unintentionally supporting Kiev's war, but could be relieved of responsibility if they cooperated with fake "authorities".
In this way, young people with a confused mentality can be enticed to commit actual illegal acts, such as arson or acting as couriers in money laundering rings.
Pavel Durov is a billionaire and founder of Telegram (Photo: Durov/Instagram).
The FSB said Mr. Pavel Durov was accused of ignoring reports from Russia about illegal activities taking place on Telegram as well as many other channels, and did not take action to close these channels. According to the FSB, the billionaire living in Dubai will be placed on the international wanted list.
On July 30, the founder of Telegram responded to the above information. Pavel Durov said Russia's listing of him as a “terrorist” was retaliation for his refusal to comply with "government demands for mass surveillance and censorship on messaging platforms."
"Russia has considered me a 'terrorist' object for refusing to meet their demands for mass surveillance and censorship on Telegram," Mr. Durov wrote on Telegram.
"According to Russian law, I am now banned from "disseminating information on the Internet". It seems that Russian officials are confused about who can ban who from using the Internet," the Telegram boss added.
Update:
At 9:50 a.m. the same day (Vietnam time), the Telegram application reappeared on the App Store. However, neither Telegram nor Apple gave any response as to why this application suddenly disappeared for a period of time.