Telegram Faces Australian Legal Action Over Alleged Terror Content Failures

Telegram, the widely used messaging platform, is currently facing legal challenges in Australia due to its alleged failure to address the spread of terrorism-related content. Australia’s eSafety Commissioner has initiated civil penalty proceedings against Telegram in the Federal Court, citing violations of the country’s Online Safety Act. The regulator claims Telegram did not respond to multiple user complaints regarding “pro-terror” content.

This case contributes to increasing global scrutiny of Telegram’s content moderation practices, following legal pressures on CEO Pavel Durov in other jurisdictions.

The eSafety Commissioner’s year-long investigation indicated that Telegram failed to remove unlawful material after being notified, with some reported content remaining visible for up to three weeks. Furthermore, the regulator alleged that Telegram did not implement sufficient measures to prevent recurring violations, such as removing accounts, channels, and groups involved in distributing pro-terror material.

The eSafety Commissioner also stated that Telegram did not detect known extremist content, including footage from the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings and the 2022 Buffalo mass shooting, prior to its eventual removal. The regulator is seeking financial penalties, with potential fines reaching up to 54.6 million Australian dollars ($35.8 million) for violations of Australia’s online safety regulations. Telegram has not released an official statement regarding the Australian proceedings, though its official X account shared a video promoting “freedom of expression.”

This Australian legal action follows Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) charging Durov with facilitating terrorist activity and initiating procedures to place him on an international wanted list. Russian authorities claimed Telegram failed to remove channels, chats, and bots utilized by Ukrainian intelligence services, terrorist groups, and extremist organizations for coordinating attacks, recruiting operatives, and engaging in cyber fraud. Telegram has also not issued an official statement on the Russian legal developments.

Durov is also under investigation in France following his August 2024 arrest, where he was charged with offenses including complicity in the distribution of illegal content, such as material related to organized crime, through Telegram. Durov has previously expressed concerns about growing threats to online privacy, suggesting that governments were eroding protections for a free internet. He indicated that the promise of free information exchange was being transformed into a tool of control.