Australian Regulators Take Legal Action Against Telegram for Terror Content Violations
The messaging platform Telegram is now subject to court action in Australia following allegations by the eSafety Commissioner that it failed to identify and eliminate extremist content posted by its users.
The messaging application Telegram, which boasts a global user base exceeding 1 billion individuals, now confronts significant legal proceedings in Australia following accusations that the platform inadequately prevented the distribution of terrorism-related content.
On Thursday, the eSafety Commissioner, Australia's regulatory body overseeing online safety, initiated civil penalty litigation against Telegram through the Federal Court, as confirmed in an official announcement.
The regulatory body has accused Telegram of violating its responsibilities under Australia's Online Safety Act by failing to respond to numerous user reports regarding "pro-terror" material.
This lawsuit contributes to mounting international pressure on Telegram's content moderation policies, coming after CEO Pavel Durov faced legal challenges in both Russia and France, as governments worldwide intensify their examination of how leading digital platforms manage dangerous content.
Australia alleges Telegram ignored repeated warnings
The eSafety Commissioner stated that its investigation, spanning an entire year, revealed that Telegram neglected to delete specific illegal material despite being notified about it, with certain flagged content staying accessible for as long as three weeks.
The regulatory authority further claimed that Telegram did not implement adequate measures to stop recurring infractions, such as deleting accounts, channels and groups that were being utilized to spread pro-terror content.
Based on eSafety's findings, Telegram additionally failed to identify recognized extremist material, including videos from the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings and the 2022 Buffalo mass shooting, prior to the eventual removal of such content.
The eSafety Commissioner is pursuing monetary sanctions, with breaches of Australia's online safety legislation potentially resulting in fines reaching up to 54.6 million Australian dollars ($35.8 million).
While Telegram has not released an official response regarding the Australian legal proceedings, the company's official X account shared a video with the caption "freedom of expression."
Telegram did not immediately respond to Cointelegraph's request to comment on this story.
Russia intensifies legal pressure on Durov
The legal action initiated by Australia occurred just one day following Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) bringing charges against Durov for enabling terrorist activity and announcing that it had commenced proceedings to add him to an international wanted list.
Russian government officials claimed that Telegram neglected to delete channels, chats and bots that were being employed by Ukrainian intelligence services, terrorist groups and extremist organizations to plan attacks, enlist operatives and execute cyber fraud.
Regarding the most recent legal developments in Russia, Telegram has similarly not released an official response, though the company did share an image depicting Durov making a profane hand gesture.
Durov continues to face investigation in France after his arrest in August 2024 at Le Bourget Airport. French legal authorities have brought charges against him for various offenses, including being complicit in distributing illegal content, such as material connected to organized crime, via Telegram.
In previous statements, Durov has denounced what he characterizes as increasing risks to online privacy, cautioning that governmental bodies were dismantling safeguards for the free internet.
What was once the promise of the free exchange of information is being turned into the ultimate tool of control
Pavel Durov, October 2025 post on X