Australia’s internet safety regulator has launched legal proceedings against messaging platform Telegram, alleging the company failed to remove terrorist content from its service despite being placed on notice, marking a significant escalation in the country’s efforts to enforce online safety standards.
The Office of the eSafety Commissioner announced on Thursday that it had commenced legal action after Telegram allegedly failed to take down videos depicting terrorist executions and mass shootings, which authorities say remained accessible on the platform.
According to the regulator, the case concerns material linked to some of the most notorious extremist attacks in recent history, including content associated with the Christchurch and Buffalo terrorist attacks.
“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.”
The regulator argues that the platform failed to meet obligations under Australia’s online safety codes and standards by not removing the material in a timely manner after being informed of its presence. If the court finds Telegram in breach of those requirements, the company could face civil penalties of up to A$54.6 million (US$38 million).
The Office of the eSafety Commissioner said the legal action reflects the seriousness with which Australia views the continued availability of extremist material online, particularly content linked to acts of terrorism that have had a profound global impact.
Telegram did not immediately comment on the proceedings. A spokesperson for the company did not respond to a request for comment following the regulator’s announcement.
Telegram is among the world’s most widely used messaging platforms, with the company reporting more than one billion monthly active users. The application has grown rapidly in recent years and plays a significant role in global communications, particularly during conflicts and major international events.
Its founder, Russian-born Pavel Durov, left Russia in 2014 before relocating himself and the company to Dubai in 2017. Under his leadership, Telegram has expanded into one of the most downloaded messaging applications worldwide.
The platform has also become an important source of information during Russia’s war in Ukraine, where it is widely used by officials and public figures in both Moscow and Kyiv to disseminate updates and communicate with audiences.
The Australian legal action comes as Telegram faces increasing scrutiny in multiple jurisdictions over the content hosted on its platform and its moderation practices.
Separately, Russia on Wednesday charged Durov with facilitating terrorist activity, alleging that Telegram was being used by Ukrainian spies to organise attacks inside Russia.
The Australian proceedings, combined with the latest legal action in Russia, underscore the growing international pressure facing Telegram as governments seek to hold digital platforms more accountable for content that authorities believe threatens public safety and national security.
