Australia sues Telegram over extremist content failures

Australia has initiated court proceedings against Telegram, alleging the messaging platform breached online safety laws by failing to remove extremist material. The eSafety commissioner, Julie Inman-Grant, said the case could result in a fine of up to A$54.6m (£28m) under the Online Safety Act, as reported by the BBC.

Inman-Grant said Telegram had left content tied to high-profile acts of extremist violence online despite being formally notified. She cited footage of the 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks and the 2022 Buffalo shooting in New York as examples. The regulator also referenced videos of terrorist executions that remained accessible, according to the BBC.

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Regulator criticises slow response

The eSafety commissioner said her office began investigating Telegram’s moderation practices in March 2024. She described five months of unresponsiveness before the platform began engaging, as reported by the BBC. Even after cooperation started, Inman-Grant said Telegram maintained a permissive environment for extremist content.

“This only serves to desensitise, to normalise and to sometimes radicalise users.”

Julie Inman-Grant, eSafety commissioner

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Inman-Grant said the platform’s failures were particularly concerning given recent events in Australia. She referenced the December attack at a Jewish festival in Bondi, which left six dead. The regulator fined Telegram A$1m in February 2025 for failing to respond promptly to questions about its handling of child abuse and extremist material, the BBC reported.

Global scrutiny of Telegram

The legal action follows charges against Telegram’s founder, Pavel Durov, in Russia. Authorities there accused him of facilitating terrorism, alleging the app was used for recruitment by Ukrainian secret services, the BBC said. Durov was also arrested in France in 2024 over allegations of insufficient moderation to curb criminal activity. He was released while the investigation continues.

Telegram has previously denied claims of inadequate moderation. Durov has also rejected accusations of failing to cooperate with law enforcement, according to the BBC. The company did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the Australian case.

Potential consequences

Inman-Grant said Australia does not issue licences for platforms like Telegram but could seek a court order to block the service. She told the BBC her office had never used such powers but would assess whether they were warranted. The case is expected to proceed in the federal court, though no timeline has been set.