The arrest of Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov in France is starting to affect the app’s popularity and ranking. He was arrested on Saturday for allegedly not moderating messages properly, leading to illegal activities like drug trafficking, money laundering, and child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on the app. Despite concerns about its content, Telegram is now the second most popular social networking app in the US and has seen a 4% increase in global iOS downloads.
The app’s rise in popularity did not happen right after Durov’s arrest. This could be because people only found out about the news later or because app store data takes time to update. Telegram reached number two on the US Social Networking charts at 3 a.m. EST on Monday, showing that its popularity is just starting to grow. However, its ranking has already dropped to number three since then.
In France, where Durov was arrested, Telegram became the top social networking app and the third most popular overall. In the US, the app moved from number 18 to number 8 in the top apps chart, its highest rank since at least January 1, 2023.
Even though Apple’s App Store rankings consider factors like app installs and download speed, the saying that any publicity is good publicity seems to be true for Telegram. Users downloading the app to find out more or show support for free speech have helped boost its visibility.
According to market intelligence firm Sensor Tower, Telegram’s global iOS downloads have increased by 4% day-over-day since Sunday. French President Emmanuel Macron stated that the arrest was part of an ongoing legal investigation, not a political decision. He reaffirmed France’s commitment to freedom of expression and innovation.
Emmanuel Macron tweeted to address misinformation about France following Durov’s arrest, emphasizing France’s dedication to freedom of expression, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
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