Surge in 'Telegram' Downloads Following CEO Arrest News

Ranked 2nd in Downloads on the US App Store

Pavel Durov, founder and CEO of Telegram, has sparked a surge of interest in Telegram following his arrest in France, resulting in an increase in downloads.

According to app analytics firm Appfigures on the 26th, Telegram ranked 2nd in the social networking app category on the US App Store at 3 a.m. Additionally, Telegram's ranking on the US app chart (excluding games) rose from 18th on the 23rd to 8th on the 26th. According to Appfigures, this is the highest ranking since January 1 of this year.

In France, where Durov was arrested, Telegram jumped to 1st place in the App Store social networking app rankings and 3rd overall in the app rankings. News of Durov's arrest has drawn attention to Telegram. Telegram is known as a messaging application (app) that protects personal information through encryption programs and is recognized for its high security.

French authorities arrested Durov at a French airport on the 24th, accusing him of neglecting to address the rise in crimes related to drugs, money laundering, and child sexual abuse that exploit anonymity on Telegram. Telegram's strong security facilitates secret conversations and has been used as a communication tool by pro-democracy activists resisting government oppression in Russia, Iran, the Middle East, and Hong Kong. However, it has recently been criticized as a breeding ground for extremist content and the spread of fake news.

Far-right groups responsible for the January 2021 US Capitol riot reportedly organized via Telegram, and recent far-right violent protest participants who shook the UK are also said to have organized riots through Telegram.

Durov, a Russian-born entrepreneur, created the social networking service (SNS) VKontakte (VK), known as the Russian version of Facebook, and the encrypted messenger app Telegram together with his brother Nikolai Durov.