Privacy-focused messaging app signals have been flying high in the Dutch app store for the past month. It often sits at the top of each data on multiple app tracking platforms as the most downloaded free app on iOS and Android in all categories. Sensor tower etc..
The app has experienced a surge in popularity over the years. Changes to policies on rivals like WhatsApp or Geopolitical events. This is because Signal created its own name as a more privacy-friendly option. That’s because it’s run by a nonprofit foundation (though based in the US) rather than a private company focused on data monetization. Additionally, the signal tracks minimal metadata.
With a new US president empowered by Big Tech’s warm embrace in 2025, it’s no surprise that digital privacy tools are spending their moments.
But what’s particularly eye-catching this time is the excellence of the signal in the Netherlands, a very specific location.
in Interview with Last week, Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, CEO of Signal Meredith Whitaker Note that while the number of “new registrations” in the Netherlands was 25 times higher this year, it is not clear what the exact comparison period for this data is.
When asked why the Netherlands saw such growth, Whittaker pointed to a combination of factors. “The growing awareness of privacy, distrust of big technology, and the political reality that people recognize how vulnerable digital communication is,” he said.
Data provided by App Intelligence Firm to TechCrunch AppFigures Raising chart signals in the Netherlands. According to the data, the signal ranked 365th in non-gaming iPhone apps in the Netherlands on January 1st and did not appear on the top app list. After that, it began to rise to the rankings around January 5th, and by February 2nd it reached the top position.
Signal spends half of February on the summit, including every day since February 22nd. We estimate that we have delved into the data and delved into the entire Apple and Google app store downloads in December 2024 with a total of 22,000.
Although part of this growth can be attributed to signals that are less saturated than other markets, its sustained position at the top of the app is noteworthy compared to adjacent markets of similar size.
“There is no other market in terms of growth in terms of Netherlands between December and February,” Appfigures told TechCrunch.
For comparison, since December, Belgium has seen an increase of over 250% downloads, Sweden has increased by 153%, and Denmark has increased by 95%.
So why do one person experience what he called Redditor?The moment of mass adoption“In the Netherlands?
Clear signal
Rejo ZengerSenior Policy Advisor of the Dutch Digital Rights Foundation The bit of freedomalthough it’s difficult to pinpoint a specific reason, he said he wasn’t surprised.
We’ve seen recent developments in the US Big Platform Provider In line with the new Trump administration, this surprised important public and media debates. The reliance on technology from large European private companies has been a focus in that debate.
“The Dutch, like many others, rely heavily on the infrastructure provided by highly dominant high-tech companies, primarily from the US,” Zenger told TechCrunch. “What this means, and the risks that will pose, have been well demonstrated in the past few weeks. As a result, public discussions in the Netherlands have been relatively sharp. In the past, this issue has only been discussed at the level of the issue.Which instant messenger should you use?“We feel that we are now debating at a higher level:You need to remove this dependency. ‘”
In that context, the public may be confused with domination with data protection abuse. The signal may appear to be a lower evil as companies such as Meta are regularly inspected and fined for data privacy practices. It is based in the US but is run by a nonprofit organization that guarantees encryption of both message content and the metadata around it.
Vincent BereDirector of the Dutch Privacy Organization Privacy firstpointed to an increase in media coverage and a wider change in public opinion.
“Since Trump was re-elected in the US a few months ago, there have been a lot of ‘bashing’ with Trump. [Elon] Musk in the Netherlands and musk in Europe are mainstream media that includes bashing by major American tech companies that seem to support Trump now,” Bele told TechCrunch. “Articles criticizing x [formerly Twitter] And Meta has appeared everywhere in the Dutch media, leading to a change in Dutch public opinion. Even people who have never really known or cared about social media privacy and security are suddenly interested in “privacy-friendly” alternatives, especially signals.
Signal of intent
The Netherlands is just one of the markets of 18 million with a European population of over 700 million, but the surge in adoption could indicate a broader trend across the continent, especially as governments seek to curb privacy barriers.
For example, Apple recently pulled end-to-end encryption from iCloud in the UK to counter the government’s efforts to install backdoors.
Talk in RightsCon 25 In Taiwan this week, Whittaker has reaffirmed Signal’s unwavering stance on privacy.
“The location of the signal for this is very clear. — we do not disrupt the robust privacy and security guarantees that people rely on in walkback, adultery or otherwise.” Whitaker said. “Whether that perturbation or backdoor is called a client-side scan, or whether the similar cryptographic protection stripping works as Apple was encouraged to do in the UK.”
In particular, Interview with Whittaker, Swedish public broadcaster SVT, said the signal is not in compliance with proposed Swedish laws requiring that the app maker transmitting the message be saved.
“In reality, this means asking us to break the encryption that is the foundation of our entire business,” says Whittaker. “Requiring them to store data is a nuisance of the entire architecture and we never do that. We want to leave the Swedish market for good.”
TechCrunch reached out to signal the comment but received no response at the time of publication.
