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Privacy - focusedmessaging app Signalhas been fly high in the Dutch app stores this past month , often sit down at the top as the most download free app on iOS and Android across all category , per information from multiple app - tracking platformssuch as Sensor Tower .
The app has know upsurge in popularity over the years , often in response topolicy changes at rivals like WhatsApporgeopolitical events . That ’s because Signal has made a name for itself as a more privacy - friendly pick — it ’s operated by a not - for - profit foundation ( albeit one based in the U.S. ) rather than a secret business focused on monetizing data . Moreover , Signal track minimal metadata .
In 2025 , with a newfangled U.S. president empowered by Big Tech ’s tender embracement , it ’s not surprising that digital privacy tools are give birth a minute — particularly in Europe , which hasattracted President Trump ’s anger .
But what ’s peculiarly eye - catching this time around is Signal ’s protuberance in one very specific locale — the Netherlands .
In aninterview withDutch paper De Telegraaf last hebdomad , Signal PresidentMeredith Whittakernoted that the number of “ new registrations ” in the Netherlands was in high spirits this year by a factor of 25 , though it ’s not clear what the exact relative catamenia of time is for this data .
When asked why the Netherlands has see such growth , Whittaker place to a combination of factors : “ rise awareness of privateness , distrust of big technical school , and the political reality in which multitude realize how vulnerable digital communication can be , ” Whittaker said .
Data provide to TechCrunch from app intelligence firmAppfigurescharts Signal ’s raise in the Netherlands . Per its datum , Signal ranked 365th among non - game iPhone apps in the Netherlands on January 1 and did not seem in the top overall apps list . Then , bulge around January 5 , it began to rise the rankings , reaching the top place by February 2 .
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Signal has dipped in and out of the lead in the intervening weeks , spend around one-half of February at the summit — include each day since February 22 . Digging deeper into the datum , Appfigures forecast that conflate downloads across Apple and Google ’s app stores total around 22,000 in December 2024 . This jumped to 99,000 in January and zoom to 233,000 through February — a 958 % rise since December .
While some of this growing may be attributed to Signal have got lower saturation than in other markets , the app ’s free burning berth at the top compared to similar - sized neighboring market is notable .
“ No other markets come close to the Netherlands in term of growth between December and February , ” AppFigures told TechCrunch .
For comparison , since December , Belgium has see downloads originate by more than 250 % , Sweden by 153 % , and Denmark by 95 % .
So why might Signal be experiencing what one Redditor called a “ mass adoption moment ” in the Netherlands ?
Clear signal
Rejo Zenger , elderly policy advisor at Dutch digital right hand foundationBits of Freedom , say that while it ’s difficult to nail one specific reason , he ’s not surprised .
Recent development in the U.S. have seenthe enceinte chopine providersalign with the new Trump administration , and this has stoked substantial public and spiritualist public debate . Europe ’s trust on technology from huge private U.S. companies has become a focal point in that debate .
“ The Dutch are , just like many others , extremely dependant on the infrastructure provided by passing dominant tech companies , mostly from the U.S. , ” Zenger enjoin TechCrunch . “ What this means , and the jeopardy that come from this , have been nicely demonstrate in the past few week . As a upshot , the public public debate in the Netherlands has been comparatively sharp . Where in the past this problem was only discussed on the level of ‘ which instant messenger should I habituate , ’ I feel now we are having the public debate on high levels as well : ‘ we should get rid of this dependency . ’ ”
In that context , the public could be conflating dominance with information protection abuse . With companies like Meta regularly beinginvestigatedandfinedover data privacy practices , Signal might seem the lesser evil : It ’s based in the U.S. , but operated by a nonprofit that ensures encryption of both message content and themetadata around it .
Vincent Böhre , film director at Dutch privateness organizationPrivacy First , also guide to increased metier reportage and a broader shift in public opinion .
“ Ever since Trump was re - elect in the U.S. a few months ago , there has been a spate of ‘ sock ’ of Trump and [ Elon ] Musk in Dutch — and European — mainstream media , include bashing of American Big Tech companies , which now seem to be supportive of Trump , ” Böhre say TechCrunch . “ Articles criticizing disco biscuit [ formerly Twitter ] and Meta have been popping up in Dutch media everywhere , leading to a shift in Dutch public opinion : even people who never really knew or cared about privacy and security in social culture medium , have now on the spur of the moment become interested in ‘ privateness - friendly ’ choice , Signal in particular . ”
Signal of intent
While the Netherlands is just one market place of 18 million people in a European universe of more than 700 million , its surge in espousal could signal a unsubtle trend across the continent , peculiarly as government look for to bring down privacy barrier .
Apple , for example , recentlypulled conclusion - to - close encryptionfrom iCloud in the U.K. to anticipate government efforts to set up a back entrance .
Speaking atRightsCon 2025 in Taiwan this week , WhittakerreaffirmedSignal ’s unwavering stance on privacy .
“ Signal ’s posture on this is very unmortgaged – - we will not walk - back , adulterate , or otherwise perturb the robust privacy and certificate guarantees that hoi polloi reckon on,”Whittaker articulate . “ Whether that perturbation or back door is predict client - side scanning , or the stripping of the encryption protections from one or another feature similar to what Apple was pushed into doing in the U.K. ”
Separately , in aninterview withSwedish public broadcaster SVT , Whittaker said Signal would not comply with a proposed Swedish jurisprudence require messaging app - Godhead to store substance .
“ In exercise , this means need us to stop the encryption that is the founding of our integral business , ” Whittaker said . “ Asking us to stack away data point would subvert our entire architecture and we would never do that . We would rather pass on the Swedish market completely . ”
TechCrunch reached out to Signal for comment , but had n’t heard back at the time of publishing .
