SignalGate Scandal

The SignalGate scandal, which involves the Trump administration's use of Signal for secret communications, has led to a surge in downloads of the app. According to Sensor Tower, Signal downloads in the US increased by 105% compared to the prior week, and by 150% compared to an average week in 2024.

The scandal has raised questions about the security practices of the Trump administration and the use of encrypted messaging apps for official communications. Despite the controversy, Signal's head of growth and partnerships, Jun Harada, sees the increased visibility and awareness of the app as a positive development.

Record Growth for Signal

Harada stated that the current growth rate is the largest US-growth moment for Signal by a massive margin. The app has seen a significant increase in downloads, with Google searches for 'Signal' up by over 1,000%. Harada attributes this growth to the increasing interest in privacy among consumers and the breach of nine US telecoms by China's Salt Typhoon hacker group.

While the exact numbers of Signal's user growth are not publicly available, Harada confirmed that the app's total downloads are in the hundreds of millions. The current growth rate is sustained, with the app maintaining a high rate of adoption every day since the scandal broke.