Privacy -centered Messaging application signal He has been flying high in Dutch Application Stores last month, in many days as the most downloaded free application in iOS and Android for all categories, due to multiple applications monitoring platforms Like the sensor tower.
The application has experienced popular increases over the years, often in response to Policy changes in rivals such as WhatsApp either Geopolitical events. This is because Signal has made a name as a more friendly option with privacy: it is operated by a non -profit base (although one based in the US. UU.) Instead of a private business known for monetizing data. In addition, the signal tracks minimal metadata.
In 2025, with a new president of the United States. attracted the anger of President Trump.
But the striking this time is the prominence of Signal in a very specific place: the Netherlands.
In a interview The Dutch newspaper of Telegraaf last week, president of Signal Meredith Whittaker He pointed out that the number of “new records” in the Netherlands was higher this year for a factor of 25, although it is not clear what is the exact comparative period for these data.
When asked why the Netherlands have seen so much growth, Whittaker pointed out a combination of factors: “The growing consciousness of privacy, the distrust of the great technology and the political reality in which people realize how vulnerable digital communication can be,” said Whittaker.
Data provided to TechCrunch of the application intelligence firm Appfigures The graphs of the increase in the signal in the Netherlands. According to his data, he said that Signal was the application for iPhone not classified games 365 on January 1 in the Netherlands and that it was not appearing at the general list of general applications. Then, as of January 5, he began to climb the lists in the Netherlands, and for February 2 he reached first in general.
The signal has entered and left the leadership in the intermediate weeks, spending about half February at the summit, including every day since February 22. Cavando in the data, appfigues estimates that the total number of downloads in Apple and Google application stores amounted to around 22,000 in December (2024). This increased to 99,000 in January, and then 233,000 until February, an increase of 958% from December.
While it is possible that part of this growth is attributed to the signal of having a lower saturation of discharges compared to other markets, the sustained position of the application in the upper part of the graphics in relation to neighboring markets of similar size is notable.
“No other market approaches the Netherlands in terms of growth between December and February,” Appfigues told TechCrunch.
As a comparison, the closest are Belgium, which has seen that downloads grow by more than 250% since December; Sweden grows by 153%; and Denmark growing by 95%.
So why could you be to be experiencing what a redditor called a “Mass adoption moment“In the Netherlands, specifically?
Clear signal
Re -register ZengerDITICH DIGITAL RIGHTS FOUNTION SENIOR ADVISOR Freedom bitsHe said that while it is difficult to point out a specific reason, he said he is not surprised.
Recent developments in the United States have seen The large platform suppliers are aligned Behind the new Trump regime, and this has fueled an important public and media debate. The dependence of Europe in technology that belongs to large private companies in the USA. It has stood out in that debate.
“The Dutch are, like many others, highly dependent on the infrastructure provided by extremely dominant technological companies, mainly from the United States,” Zenger told Techcrunch. “What this means, and the risks that come from this, have demonstrated well in recent weeks. As a result, the public debate in the Netherlands has been relatively acute. Where in the past this problem was only discussed at the level of ‘What instant messenger should I use?‘I feel that now we are also having the debate on higher levels:’We should get rid of this unit. ‘
In that context, the public could be combining domain with data protection abuse. With companies as a goal regularly investigated and Slip On data privacy practices, the signal may seem the lesser evil: it is based on the United States, but is operated by a non -profit organization that promises to encrypt not only the content of the message, But the metadata around it.
Vincent BöhreDirector of the Dutch Privacy Organization Privacy firstHe also pointed out an increase in media awareness and a broader change in public opinion.
“Since Trump was re -elected in the United States a few months ago, there have been many Trump ‘blows’ and [Elon] Musk in the Dutch and European media, including the attack of American companies, which now seems to support Trump, “Böhre told TechCrunch.” Articles criticizing X X [formerly Twitter] And goal has been appearing in the Dutch media everywhere, which leads to a change in Dutch public opinion: even the people who never knew or worried about privacy and security in social networks, have now suddenly interested in alternatives of ‘friend’s friend’, a particular signal. “
Sign of intention
While the Netherlands are only a market of 18 million people in a European population of more than 700 million, an increase in that market could only be seen as a vulgar for feeling throughout the continent, at a time when governments seek to demolish privacy barriers.
Apple, for example, recently End -to -end encryption thrown From Icloud in the United Kingdom to counteract government efforts to install a back door.
Talk with Rightscon 25 In Taiwan this week, Whittaker reaffirmed a position he has declared many times In the past: The signal will not compromise privacy.
“The position of the signal in this is very clear: we will not delay, adulterate or disturb the robust guarantees of privacy and security on which people depend,” Whittaker said. “Whether this disturbance or rear door is called the client’s side, or the elimination of encryption protections of one or another characteristics similar to what Apple was pushed to do in the United Kingdom”
Separately, in a interview Whittaker said it would not consult a new Swedish Law proposal that requires that messaging applications manufacturers are proposed to store messages.
“In practice, this means asking us to break the encryption that is the basis of our entire business,” Whittaker said. “Ask us to store data would undermine all our architecture and we would never do it. We prefer to leave the Swedish market completely. “
Techcrunch contacted to point out to comment, but had not had news at the time of publication.