The signal is the application that has been downloaded by number one in the Netherlands. But why?

The Message Application Message Signal has flown high on the Dutch app stores last month, which often sits on top as the most descended free iOS and Android app in all categories, per data from multiple application tracking platforms such as sensor tower.

The application has experienced overflow in popularity over the years, often in response Policy changes to opponents such as Whatsapp or geopolitical events. This is due to the fact that Signal has made a name for itself as a more privacy-friendly selection-it runs a non-profit institution (though one based in the US) and not a private business that focuses on creating revenue. In addition, the signs attended minimal metadata.

In 2025, with a new US president authorized by Big Tech’s warm embrace, it is not surprising that digital privacy tools have a moment – especially in Europe, which has attracted the hostility of President Trump.

But what is particularly impressive this time is Signal’s projection in a very specific local landscape of the Netherlands.

To one convene Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf last week, President Signal Meredith Whittaker He noted that the number of “new registrations” in the Netherlands was higher this year by 25, although it is not clear what the exact comparative period for this data is.

When asked why the Netherlands have seen such growth, Whittaker pointed out a combination of factors: “The growing awareness of privacy, the distrust of great technology and the political reality in which people realize how vulnerable digital communication is,” Whittaker said.

The data provided to TechCrunch by App Intelligence Company App Competence The marking diagrams in the Netherlands. According to its data, the signal took 365th place among iPhone applications that are not a game in the Netherlands on January 1st and did not appear on the list of top overall applications. Then, starting around January 5, he began to rise to the scores, reaching the top position until February 2.

The signal has been immersed in and out of the lead in the interference weeks, spending about half of February at the summit – including each day from February 22.

While some of these growth may be attributed to the signal that has a lower saturation than in other markets, the prolonged position of the application at the top compared to neighboring markets of similar size is remarkable.

“There are no other markets near the Netherlands in December and February,” Appfigures told TechCrunch.

For a comparison, since December, Belgium has seen shootings grow by more than 250%, in Sweden by 153%and in Denmark by 95%.

So why signal to experience what he himself named himself “Adoption“In the Netherlands?

Pure signal

Rejo ZengerSenior Policy Advisor to Dutch Digital Rights Foundation Pieces of freedomHe said that while it is difficult to identify a particular reason, it is not surprised.

Recent developments in the US have seen The big platform providers Align with the new Trump administration and this has promoted an important debate on the public and the media. Europe’s dependence on technology by huge US private companies has become a focus on this debate.

“The Dutch, like many others, are largely dependent on the infrastructure provided by extremely dominant technology companies, mainly on the US,” Zenger told TechCrunch. “What this means and the risks that come from it have proved to be nice in recent weeks. As a result, public debate in the Netherlands was relatively sharp. Where in the past this problem was discussed only at the level of ‘Which Instant Messenger should I use“I now feel that we have the discussion of higher levels as well:”We have to get rid of this dependency.

In this context, the public could disguise sovereignty with data protection abuse. With companies such as Meta investigating and imposing fines on data privacy practices, Signal may occur the least harm: it is based on the US, but operates by a non -profit organization that ensures the encryption of both messages and metadata content.

Vincent BowkerDirector of the Dutch Protection of Personal Data FirstHe also highlighted the increased media coverage and a broader public displacement.

“Since Trump was re -elected to the US a few months ago, there have been a lot of ‘bashing’ of Trump and [Elon] Musk in Dutch – and European media, including the estimation of US large technologies, which now seem to support Trump, “Böhre told Techcrunch.” Articles criticizing x [formerly Twitter] And the Meta has appeared in Dutch media everywhere, leading to a shift in Dutch public opinion: even people who never knew or care about privacy and social media, suddenly suddenly interested in “privately friendly” alternative, in particular.

Signal

While the Netherlands are only a market for 18 million people in a European population of over 700 million, increasing its adoption could signal a broader trend across the continent, especially as governments seek to reduce privacy obstacles.

Apple, for example, recently pulled encryption from iCloud to the United Kingdom to face government efforts to install a backdoor.

Speech Rights 25 In Taiwan this week, Whittaker confirmed Signal’s steadfast attitude on privacy.

“Signal’s position on it is very clear- we will not walk, distort or otherwise disturb the strong guarantees Whittaker said. “Whether this disorder or backdoor is called client’s scanning or stripping encryption protections from one or the other feature similar to that Apple was pushed to do in the United Kingdom”

Separately, in a convene The Swedish Public Broadcasting SVT, Whittaker said Signal would not comply with a proposed Swedish law that requires messaging officers to store messages.

“In practice, this means that we ask us to break the encryption that is the foundation of our entire business,” Whittaker said. “Asking us to save the data will undermine our entire architecture and we will never do that. We would prefer to leave the Swedish market completely.”

TechCrunch arrived at the comments signal, but had not heard at the time of the publication.