Telegram has removed the ability for users on iOS to create pay-to-view posts due to Apple’s strict App Store guidelines (through 9to5Mac). In a message on TelegramCEO Pavel Durov says the platform’s creators have used third-party payment or donation bots to sell access to certain posts on their channels, but Apple was “unhappy with content creators monetizing their efforts without paying a 30% tax.” pay to Apple.”

Apple does not allow developers to use third-party payment processors in their apps and charges up to 30 percent commission on all in-app purchases. As noted by 9to5MacInitially, Telegram appeared to be testing a paid messaging feature such as: spotted by social media advisor Matt Navarra. However, Telegram said in a statement: 9to5Mac that the platform is not testing this feature and that users have instead taken advantage of third-party payment bots to add a paywall to messages.

“This is just another example of how a trillion dollar monopoly is abusing its market dominance at the expense of millions of users trying to monetize their own content,” Durov says. “I hope regulators in the EU, India and elsewhere will take action before Apple destroys more dreams and crushes more entrepreneurs with a tax higher than any government levy. [value-added tax].”