Australia Initiates Legal Action Against Telegram Over Pro-Terrorist Content

Australia's eSafety Commissioner has begun legal action against the messaging platform Telegram, alleging that the company failed to remove pro-terrorist material. According to eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman-Grant, the content in question includes videos of terrorist executions and mass shootings, specifically those associated with the Buffalo shooting in New York and the Christchurch attacks.

The regulator alleges that this material remained accessible on the platform long after Telegram had been put on notice. Court filings indicate that between July and October 2025, Australian users reported 12 posts containing pro-terror content; however, the platform allegedly failed to remove 10 of those posts or block the accounts responsible. If found in breach of Australia's Online Safety Act, Telegram could face civil penalties of up to A$54.6 million (approximately US$38 million). Inman-Grant noted that while Australia does not license platforms, the government could potentially apply to the federal court to have the service ceased.

A spokesperson for Telegram rejected the allegations and stated the company will contest them in court, asserting that its anti-terrorism efforts are well-documented and that thousands of extremist communities were blocked in 2026 alone.

This legal action follows other international pressures on Telegram's founder, Pavel Durov. Russia recently charged Durov with facilitating terrorism, alleging the app was used by Ukrainian secret services, while France placed him under formal investigation in 2024 for failing to moderate the app to reduce criminality.