Based on privacy Messaging app signal Last month, Dutch app is flying high in stores, often according to multiple app tracking platform data, all categories sit on the top as the most downloaded free app on iOS and Android. Such as a sensor tower.
The app has experienced an increase in popularity over the past years, often in response The policy changes in rivals like WhatsApp Or Geo -political events. The reason for this is that the signal has made a name for itself as a more privacy friendly option. Moreover, the signal tracks the minimum metadata.
In 2025, with a new US president, empowering the Big Tech, it is not surprising that digital privacy tools is a moment – especially in Europe, which. Attracted President Trump’s Ire.
But this time, especially what is spectacular is the importance of a signal in a particular place-Netherlands.
One in With interviews Dutch newspaper de Telegraph last week, Signal President Meridith Whitker It is noted that the number of “new registration” in the Netherlands is higher than the element of 25 this year, though it is unclear what is the correct comparative period of time for this data.
When asked why the Netherlands have seen such growth, Whitekar pointed to the combination of factors: “Increasing awareness of privacy, big tech confidence, and in which people realize how weak digital communication can be,” Whitekar said.
Data provided to Tech Crunch from App Intelligence Firm Appfigures The rise of the charts signal in the Netherlands. According to its data, the signal is ranked 365th in non -game iPhone apps in the Netherlands on January 1 and was not included in the high list of apps. Then, from around January 5, he started climbing the rankings, reached the first position by February 2.
The signal has taken the lead in the weeks of intervention, only half of the summit spent in the summit in half of February – including every day after February 22. Digging the depth of the data, downloads in Apple and Google’s App Stores jointly reached about 22,000 December 2024 to around 22,000.
Although some of these growth can be attributed to the indicators of being less saturated than other markets, the app’s permanent position is noteworthy compared to neighboring markets.
“No other market comes closer to the Netherlands in terms of growth between December and February,” Epifigers told Tech Crunch.
For comparisons, since December, Belgium has seen more than 250 % download, 153 % in Sweden, and Denmark 95 %.
So why can the signal experience a Redder “said”The moment to adopt a large -scale“In the Netherlands?
Clear signal
EruzerzerSenior Policy Advisor at the Dutch Digital Rights Foundation The pieces of freedomAlthough it is difficult to identify a particular reason, it is not surprised.
Recent predictions in the US have seen Large platform providers Align with Trump’s new administration, and has stopped the public and media debate. Europe’s dependence on the technology of huge private American companies has become a central point in this debate.
“Dutch, like many other people, rely on the infrastructure provided by the most dominant tech companies, mostly from the United States,” Zanjar told Tech Crunch. “What it means, and the dangers it has been performed well in the past few weeks. As a result, the public debate in the Netherlands has been relatively fast.Which instant Messenger should I use‘I think we are now discussing high levels:’We should get rid of this dependent. ” ‘
In this context, the public can dominate with the protection of data. Companies like Meta are regular Investigation And Fine More than data privacy methods, the signal may show less evil: it is based in the United States, but runs through a non -profit that ensures the message content and both. The metad data around it.
Vincent anywayDirector in the Dutch Privacy Organization First privacyHe also pointed to an increase in media coverage and a wider change in public opinion.
“When Trump was re -elected in the United States a few months ago, Trump and I have been ‘beating’ too much [Elon] Behri told Tech Crunch that Dutch – and European – and European – mainstream media, including defeating US major tech companies, now support Trump. “Subjects criticize X [formerly Twitter] And Meta is popped everywhere in Dutch media, which changes the Dutch opinion of the public: even those who never knew about privacy and security in social media nor care about them, now suddenly ‘confidential friendly’ alternatives, especially in signals.
Indicating intentions
Although the Netherlands has only one market of 18 million people in the European population of over 700 million, the increase in adoption can indicate a wider trend in the continent, especially when governments seek to reduce privacy barriers.
Apple, for example, recently The encryption from the end to the end From the UK to the UK to counter the government’s efforts to install the backdoor.
Talk Rights 25 In Taiwan this week, Whitekar Certified Atal stance on privacy signal.
“The position of the signal on it is very clear.- We rely on strong privacy and security guarantees that we rely on, not guaranteed its strength and security.” Whiteker said. “Whether this turmoil or the backdoor is called client side scanning, or removing encryption reservations from one or any other features such as Apple was pushed into the UK.”
Separately, in one With interviews Swedish Public Broadcaster SVT, Whitekar said the signal will not comply with a proposed Swedish law that messagers need to store messages.
“In practice, it means asking us to break the encryption, which is the basis of our entire business,” said Whiteker. “We will harm our entire architecture to store the data and we will never do so. We will instead leave the Swedish market completely.
The Tech Crunch reached the comment, but did not hear the time of publication.