Australian Watchdog Sues Telegram Over Failure to Remove Terror Content

Australia's online safety regulator has taken Telegram to the Federal Court, accusing the messaging platform of failing to remove violent extremist content despite repeated warnings. If the court rules against the company, Telegram could face a fine of up to 54.6 million Australian dollars (about USD 38 million) under Australia's Online Safety Act.

The case, filed by Australia's eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant, focuses on videos linked to the Christchurch mosque attacks, the 2022 Buffalo supermarket shooting, and Islamic State beheading videos. The regulator says the material stayed on Telegram long after users reported it, allowing it to spread through channels that can reach unlimited audiences. The lawsuit also says Australian users reported 12 pieces of terror content between July and October 2025, but Telegram allegedly failed to remove most of them or suspend the related accounts.

Inman Grant said platforms must act quickly once they are alerted to terrorist content. She argued that Telegram's large public channels give it a responsibility to stop violent propaganda from spreading and being used to radicalize others. The legal action is the first major court test of Australia's 2021 online safety law against a tech platform over alleged failures to remove terrorist material.

Telegram rejected the allegations and said it would fight the case in court. The company said its anti terrorism work is well documented and claimed it has removed more than 150,000 terrorist related communities this year. It also said it remains committed to protecting user privacy, free speech and freedom of assembly.

The regulator said Telegram became more cooperative after founder and CEO Pavel Durov was arrested in France in 2024, but added that the platform still provides a permissive environment for extremist content. The lawsuit comes as Durov also faces fresh legal pressure after Russia accused him of aiding terrorist activities and placed him on an international wanted list.