Key facts
- Australia is suing Telegram for allegedly failing to remove 'pro-terror' material.
- Content in question includes videos of the Christchurch and Buffalo shootings.
- Telegram could face fines of up to A$54.6 million for violating the Online Safety Act.
- The eSafety commissioner cited the platform's unresponsiveness and hosting of extremist content.
- Telegram denies the allegations and plans to contest them in court.
Australia is pursuing legal action against the messaging platform Telegram, alleging its failure to remove 'pro-terror' content, including videos of the Christchurch and Buffalo shootings. The country's eSafety commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, stated that Telegram could face fines of up to A$54.6 million (£28m, US$38m) for breaching its obligations under the Online Safety Act.
Inman Grant alleged that Telegram left content linked to significant acts of extremist violence online long after being notified. She expressed concern over the platform's alleged unresponsiveness during an inquiry that began in March 2024, and stated that even after engagement, Telegram maintained a 'permissive environment' for extremist material that is 'very easy to find'. She also suggested the platform is 'sometimes used to plan attacks'.
A Telegram spokesperson denied the allegations, asserting that the platform's anti-terrorism efforts are 'well documented' and that they will 'contest them in court'.
This action follows separate legal developments concerning Telegram's founder, Pavel Durov. Russia recently charged Durov with facilitating terrorism, and he was previously investigated in France in 2024 for alleged failure to moderate the app to reduce criminality.
Inman Grant noted that the eSafety regulator had previously fined Telegram A$1 million in February 2025 for failing to respond promptly to questions about its measures against child abuse and extremist content. She emphasized the importance of digital platforms meeting their obligations to protect the community, especially in light of recent events.