Australia's eSafety Commissioner has initiated legal proceedings against the messaging platform Telegram, alleging a failure to remove pro-terrorist material from its service. The action was prompted by Telegram's alleged inaction in removing videos depicting terrorist executions and mass shootings.
According to a statement from the eSafety Commissioner's office, the case involves content linked to significant acts of extremist violence, including material associated with the Christchurch and Buffalo terror attacks. "We allege that this content remained accessible on the service long after Telegram had been put on notice," stated eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant.
Australian users reportedly flagged 12 posts containing pro-terror content between July and October 2025, some of which featured known terrorist material. A court filing indicates that Telegram failed to remove 10 of these posts or block the associated accounts.
This legal action could result in civil penalties for Telegram, potentially reaching up to A$54.6 million (approximately $38 million). A spokesperson for Telegram stated that the company rejects the allegations and intends to contest them in court. The spokesperson also asserted that Telegram has a documented history of anti-terrorism efforts, citing the blocking of thousands of extremist communities in 2026 alone.
Telegram is a widely used platform with over 1 billion monthly active users globally. Its founder, Pavel Durov, relocated himself and the company to Dubai in 2017. The platform has also become a significant communication tool for both sides during Russia's war in Ukraine. This development comes shortly after Russia charged Durov with facilitating terrorist activity, accusing the app of being used by Ukrainian spies for attacks within Russia.