Australia’s internet safety regulator has launched legal action against Telegram, alleging the messaging platform failed to remove content linked to terrorist attacks and extremist violence despite being notified.
The Office of the eSafety Commissioner said on Thursday the case stems from Telegram’s alleged failure to remove videos of terrorist executions and mass shootings.
“This case concerns content linked to some of the most notorious acts of known extremist violence in recent history, including material associated with the Christchurch and Buffalo terror attacks,” eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said in a statement.
“We allege that this content remained accessible on the service long after Telegram had been put on notice.”
Under Australia’s online safety codes and standards, Telegram could face civil penalties of up to A$54.6 million ($38 million) if the court finds it failed to comply.
“We reject these allegations and will contest them in court,” a Telegram spokesperson said.
Telegram’s anti-terrorism efforts are well documented, the spokesperson added, with thousands of extremist communities blocked by the platform in 2026 alone.
According to court filings, Australian Telegram users reported 12 posts containing alleged pro-terror material between July and October 2025, including three posts containing known terrorist content.
The regulator alleges Telegram failed to remove 10 of the posts or suspend or block the accounts responsible for publishing them.
Telegram says it has more than 1 billion monthly active users worldwide.
Founded by Russian-born Pavel Durov, who left Russia in 2014 before relocating the company to Dubai in 2017, Telegram has become a major communications platform during Russia’s war in Ukraine and is widely used by officials in both Moscow and Kyiv.
The Australian case comes a day after Russian authorities charged Durov with facilitating terrorist activity, alleging the platform was used by Ukrainian spies to organize attacks inside Russia.
Stay ahead of the Stories shaping our world. Subscribe to Impact Newswire and join our WhatsApp Channel for timely updates on global tech, business, and innovation—all in one place.
Dive deeper into the future with the Cause Effect 4.0 Podcast, where we explore the ideas, trends, and technologies driving the global AI conversation.
Got a story to share? Contact Us to reach a global audience with Impact Newswire.
Faustine Ngila is the AI Editor at Impact Newswire, based in Nairobi, Kenya. He is an award-winning journalist specializing in artificial intelligence, blockchain, and emerging technologies.
He previously worked as a global technology reporter at Quartz in New York and Digital Frontier in London, where he covered innovation, startups, and the global digital economy.
With years of experience reporting on cutting-edge technologies, Faustine focuses on AI developments, industry trends, and the impact of technology on society.
Discover more from Impact Newswire
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
