Australia's online safety regulator has initiated legal action against Telegram, alleging the messaging platform failed to remove terrorist content despite warnings, potentially facing a fine of AU$54.6 million.
Australia's eSafety Commissioner has begun formal proceedings against Telegram, accusing the messaging platform of neglecting to remove extremist material from its service. According to the regulator, videos depicting terrorist executions, mass shootings, and other radical content connected to incidents such as the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings and the 2022 Buffalo supermarket shooting remained accessible on the platform long after authorities notified Telegram of their presence.
The eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant stated that between July and October 2025, Telegram failed to take action against reported extremist content or disable the accounts responsible for distributing it, despite users flagging the material. The potential penalty for these alleged violations stands at AU$54.6 million. Grant noted that the action was prompted amid heightened security concerns in Australia, including reference to the 2024 Bondi incident, a mass shooting at a Sydney beach that resulted in 15 deaths.
Telegram has disputed the allegations, announcing its intention to defend itself in court. The company stated it had blocked thousands of extremist communities during 2026. This legal challenge arrives shortly after Russian authorities charged Telegram's founder Pavel Durov with facilitating terrorist activity, alleging the platform was used by Ukrainian operatives to coordinate attacks within Russia. Durov, a Russian-born billionaire now residing in Dubai, co-founded Telegram with his brother Nikolai in 2013. The platform currently maintains over one billion monthly active users globally.
