Australia is pursuing legal action against Telegram, alleging the messaging app failed to adequately remove "pro-terror" material, including graphic footage of mass shootings. The country's eSafety commissioner, Julie Inman-Grant, stated that the platform could face fines of up to A$54.6 million (approximately US$38 million) for violating the Online Safety Act.
Inman-Grant asserted that Telegram allowed content linked to "some of the most notorious acts of known extremist violence in recent history" to remain online long after being notified. "No platform is above the law," she declared.
This action follows a period of alleged unresponsiveness from Telegram. The eSafety commissioner's office began inquiring about the platform's efforts to combat terrorist and extremist material in March 2024, experiencing what Inman-Grant described as "five very difficult months of unresponsiveness." While Telegram later began to engage, the commissioner stated it maintained a "permissive environment" for extremist content that was "very easy to find."
According to Inman-Grant, the platform is "sometimes used to plan attacks" and that its content can "desensitise, to normalise and to sometimes radicalise" users. The extremist material allegedly accessible on Telegram includes videos of the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings and the May 2022 Buffalo shooting, as well as videos of terrorist executions.
This legal challenge comes as Australia grapples with the recent attack that targeted a Jewish festival in Bondi in December, highlighting the importance of digital platforms upholding their community safety obligations. While Australia does not license platforms like Telegram, Inman-Grant noted that the government could petition the federal court to cease the service, though such powers have not been previously invoked.
In February 2025, the eSafety regulator had already fined Telegram A$1 million for failing to promptly address questions regarding its measures against child abuse and extremist material.
Telegram has previously denied allegations of insufficient moderation and stated it will contest the current claims in court.