Australia Sues Telegram – Here Is Why Terror Content Allegations Could Cost Millions

• Australia’s eSafety Commissioner has launched legal action against Telegram, alleging the platform failed to remove terrorist and extremist content.
• The regulator claims videos of terrorist executions and mass shootings remained online for weeks after being reported by users.
• If found in breach of Australia’s Online Safety Act, Telegram could face civil penalties of up to A$54.6 million.

Australia’s online safety regulator has commenced civil penalty proceedings against Telegram, accusing the messaging platform of failing to detect and remove extremist content, including videos linked to terrorist attacks and mass shootings.

The lawsuit, filed in Australia’s Federal Court following a year-long investigation, alleges Telegram breached its systemic safety obligations under the country’s Online Safety Act by allowing unlawful material to remain publicly accessible even after receiving reports from users.

The case marks one of the most significant enforcement actions brought against a major messaging platform under Australia’s online safety laws.

Regulator Alleges Repeated Failures

According to the eSafety Commissioner, Telegram failed to promptly remove multiple pieces of reported extremist content.

The regulator alleges that videos of terrorist executions remained accessible for as long as three weeks after being reported by Australian users. It also claims Telegram failed to proactively identify and remove known terrorist material, including footage from the 2019 Christchurch mosque shooting and the 2022 Buffalo supermarket shooting, which reportedly stayed on the platform for nearly three months.

Authorities further allege Telegram did not remove the associated accounts, groups, and channels responsible for distributing the material, increasing the risk of repeated violations.

Online Safety Obligations Under Scrutiny

Beyond the content itself, Australia’s regulator argues that Telegram failed to meet several obligations required under the Online Safety Act.

The allegations include failing to maintain platform-wide terms of service prohibiting pro-terror material and failing to notify users about the outcome of their content reports.

If the Federal Court finds Telegram in breach of Australia’s online safety standards, the company could face civil penalties of up to A$54.6 million.

Authorities Cite Growing Security Concerns

eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said the case involves material connected to some of the world’s most notorious acts of extremist violence.

She linked the legal action to Australia’s evolving domestic security landscape, noting that the country’s terrorism threat level remains “probable.” Officials have also warned that online radicalization is becoming an increasingly important factor in terrorism investigations, with many individuals reportedly influenced through online communities.

Telegram says it serves more than one billion users worldwide, with the platform attracting approximately 1.5 million Australian visits each month.

Telegram Faces Mounting Global Pressure

The Australian proceedings add to a growing list of legal and regulatory challenges facing Telegram.

Just one day before Australia’s announcement, Russia’s Federal Security Service reportedly charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with aiding terrorist activity and placed him on an international wanted list over allegations that the platform failed to remove content used to coordinate attacks.

Durov also continues to face legal scrutiny in France, where he was arrested in 2024 over allegations that Telegram did not adequately combat criminal activity on the platform. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

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