The signal is the application downloaded number one in the Netherlands. But why?

The signaling signal -centered messaging application has been flying in Dutch Application Stores last month, often sitting at the top as the most downloaded free application in iOS and Android in all categories, according to data from 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 company focused on monetizing data. In addition, the signal tracks minimal metadata.

In 2025, with a new president of the United States empowered by Big Tech’s warm hug, it is not surprising that digital privacy tools are having a moment, particularly in Europe, which has attracted the anger of President Trump.

But what is especially striking this 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, Signal held 365 among the iPhone applications that are not the game in the Netherlands on January 1 and did not appear on the general list of general applications. Then, as of January 5, the classifications began to upload, reaching the higher position before February 2.

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. Deepen the data, Appfigures estimates that the combined downloads in Apple and Google application stores totaled around 22,000 in December 2024. This increased to 99,000 in January and jumped to 233,000 until February: an increase of 958% in December.

While part of this growth can be attributed to the signal having a lower saturation than in other markets, the sustained position of the application in the upper part compared 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.

By way of comparison, since December, Belgium has seen discharges grow by more than 250%, Sweden in 153%and Denmark in 95%.

So why could you be to be experiencing what a redditor called a “Mass adoption moment“In the Netherlands?

Clear signal

Re -register ZengerDITICH DIGITAL RIGHTS FOUNTION SENIOR ADVISOR Freedom bitsHe said that while it is difficult to identify a specific reason, he is not surprised.

Recent developments in the United States have seen Great platform suppliers Align with the new Trump administration, and this has fueled a significant public and media debate. The dependence of Europe in the technology of large private companies in the United States has become a focal point 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. Since companies as a goal are regularly investigated and fined with data privacy practices, the signal may seem the lesser evil: it is based on the US, but operated by a non -profit organization that guarantees encryption both of the messages of messages and the metadata around it.

Vincent BöhreDirector of the Dutch Privacy Organization Privacy firstHe also pointed out a greater coverage of the media and a broader change in public opinion.

“Since Trump was re -elected in the USA. Uu. A few months ago, there have been many ‘blows’ of Trump and (Elon) musk in the Dutch and European media, including the attack of the American companies of large technologies, which now seem to support Trump,” Böhre told TechCrunch. “The articles that criticize X (previously Twitter) and Meta have 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, now suddenly they have been interested in ‘friendly with privacy’ alternatives, a particular sign.”

Sign of intention

While the Netherlands are only a market of 18 million people in a European population of more than 700 million, their increase in adoption could indicate a broader trend throughout the continent, especially when governments seek to reduce privacy barriers.

Apple, for example, recently removed end -to -end encryption from ICloud in the United Kingdom to counteract government efforts to install a rear door.

Talk with Rightscon 25 In Taiwan this week, Whittaker reaffirmed the unwavering position of signal on privacy.

“The position of the signal in this is very clear: we will not go back, we will 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 The Swedish public broadcaster SVT, Whittaker said that Signal would not comply with a Swedish proposal law that required that messaging applications 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.