Australia Sues Telegram Over Failure to Remove Terror Content

The Office of the eSafety Commissioner in Australia has initiated legal action against Telegram, alleging the platform's failure to remove videos depicting terrorist executions and mass shootings. eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant stated that breaches of Australia's online safety codes could incur civil penalties of up to A$54.6 million (US$38 million). Telegram has denied these allegations and intends to contest the case, asserting that its anti-terrorism measures are robust, having blocked thousands of extremist communities in 2026 alone.

Court filings reveal that Australian users reported 12 posts containing pro-terror content between July and October 2025, with three identified as known terrorist material. The eSafety Commissioner claims Telegram did not remove 10 of these posts or suspend the accounts responsible.

Telegram, founded by Pavel Durov, has over one billion monthly active users and has been a significant source of information during the Russia-Ukraine war. Separately, Durov has been charged by Russia with facilitating terrorist activity, alleging Telegram's use by Ukrainian spies for organizing attacks within Russia.