Apple briefly removed Telegram from its App Store after finding child sexual abuse material (CSAM) content, per a Reuters report. The takedown occurred around 9:30 p.m. ET on Monday, with searches showing a 'page can't be found' error. Existing users remained unaffected, and Telegram stayed available on the Mac App Store. The app returned roughly 40 minutes later after Apple confirmed the removal was due to a single account sharing CSAM. Telegram stated it had banned the user and highlighted its efforts, including removing 337,900 groups and 29,640 channels related to CSAM in 2026.

Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games, criticized Apple’s App Store policies on X, calling the removal 'capricious' and advocating for more competition. He argued that such actions could undermine communication tools like iMessage if standards were inconsistently applied. This followed a similar 2018 incident where Telegram was removed over 'inappropriate content' and later restored after adding safeguards.

The incident underscores ongoing debates about app moderation and platform control. Apple’s strict CSAM policies are praised for safety but criticized for potential overreach. Telegram emphasized the issue stemmed from one account, reiterating its proactive measures against harmful content.