Apple Briefly Removes Telegram Amid AI-Modified Extortion Attack
RSync25 · x · 2026-08-05
Apple briefly removed Telegram from the App Store due to illegal pornographic content in a public chat. Telegram founder Pavel Durov explained this was a targeted extortion attack.
The attacker used a technical trick to edit an old message in an active group chat, planting AI-modified illegal content. This effectively hid the content from regular group members, preventing them from seeing or reporting it. The extortionist then reported the content directly to Apple and demanded ransom from group owners. Durov warned other app developers to be aware of these novel community attacks.
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