The Telegram messenger app’s global popularity has surged following the arrest of the platform’s founder and CEO, Pavel Durov, TechCrunch has reported, citing analysis of global downloads from market research company Sensor Tower.
The number of Telegram downloads on the iOS platform worldwide reportedly jumped 4% day-over-day on August 26. In France, where Durov was detained on Saturday, the messenger became the top app in the category of social networking and was the third most downloaded app overall.
In the US, Telegram moved into the second spot in the top apps chart, which excludes games, before bouncing back to third.
The tech news outlet noted that Apple’s App Store rankings reflect a combination of metrics such as the number of app installs and download velocity, among other factors.
According to app intelligence company Appfigures, as cited by TechCrunch, Telegram did not move into second place on the social networking charts on the US App Store until 3am EST Monday, which could mean that the boost received by the app is only now underway, though it could be short-lived.
The Russian entrepreneur was apprehended on Saturday upon arriving at Paris-Le Bourget Airport. A French judge has twice extended Durov’s detention, with the Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office stating that he was arrested as part of a broad criminal inquiry against an unnamed person.
According to prosecutors, the 39-year-old Russian citizen, who also holds French, UAE, and St. Kitts and Nevis citizenship, could face charges ranging from complicity in drug dealing and money laundering, to facilitating the distribution of child pornography.
Reports indicate that the authorities believe Durov is complicit in a range of crimes allegedly committed via the social media app due to insufficient moderation.
Telegram, which has approximately 1 billion active monthly users, was created by Durov and his brother in 2013 in Russia. The entrepreneur left the country in the mid-2010s and settled in Dubai. He was granted French citizenship in 2021.