The recent arrest of Telegram founder and CEO, Pavel Durov, in France is beginning to influence the app’s popularity and ranking on various platforms. Durov was detained over allegations that he allowed illegal activities to proliferate on Telegram by failing to moderate content effectively. These activities reportedly include drug trafficking, money laundering, and distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
In spite of these serious charges, Telegram is experiencing an uptick in downloads. The surge has catapulted it to the No. 2 position on the U.S. App Store’s Social Networking charts, and global iOS downloads have gone up by 4%.
Interestingly, this increase in downloads didn’t happen instantly following Durov’s arrest. It appears that the news took some time to spread, possibly because people were catching up on the weekend’s developments later or due to delays in app store ranking updates.
According to Appfigures data, Telegram rose to the No. 2 spot on the U.S. App Store’s Social Networking charts around 3 a.m. EST on Monday. However, this boost might be temporary; the app had already dipped to No. 3 in the Social category by the time of reporting.
In France, where Durov was apprehended, Telegram jumped to the top spot in the Social Networking category on the App Store and reached No. 3 overall.
In the broader category of top apps excluding games, Telegram’s rank in the U.S. climbed from No. 18 to No. 8, marking its highest position since at least January 1, 2023.
Apple’s App Store rankings generally reflect multiple metrics, including the number of installs and the speed of downloads, among other factors.
The notion that all publicity is good publicity seems applicable here. Users may be downloading Telegram out of curiosity or solidarity with Durov’s stance on “free speech,” contributing to its upward ranking.
Market intelligence firm Sensor Tower also noted a 4% increase in Telegram’s global iOS downloads as of Sunday.
French President Emmanuel Macron addressed the situation, emphasizing that the arrest stemmed from an “ongoing judicial investigation” and was not politically motivated. He reaffirmed France’s commitment to freedom of expression, innovation, and entrepreneurship under the rule of law.
