Telegram Delisting From Apple App Store Blamed on "Takedown Extortionist" Who Planted AI-Modified Content

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov said the app's brief App Store removal followed an extortion attempt: an actor edited an old group-chat message to display "AI-modified illegal content" invisible to members, then threatened automated mass reports to Apple unless paid. Durov said Apple delisted Telegram before contacting the company. Apple has not publicly responded.