Australia Sues Telegram Over ‘Pro‑Terror’ Content

Sun Sep 06 2026 06:31:43 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

The Australian eSafety Commissioner claims Telegram failed to remove extremist material, threatening a fine of up to A$54.6 million.

Australia’s eSafety Commissioner has announced a lawsuit against Telegram, alleging the platform failed to remove ‘pro‑terror’ content including videos of the Christchurch and Buffalo shootings. Julie Inman‑Grant, who helped launch the country’s first ban on children’s social‑media use, points to a backlog of extremist material and Telegram’s slow response to regulatory notices. The case could lead to a court‑ordered cease of the service in Australia and reflects growing global scrutiny of tech companies over violent content. Telegram has denied negligence, and its founder has faced investigations in Russia and France for similar concerns.

Australia’s eSafety Commissioner announced a lawsuit against Telegram, the popular messaging app, claiming the platform failed to remove extremist content linked to violent attacks.

Julie Inman‑Grant, who led the nation’s first ban on under‑16 social‑media usage, said Telegram faced a potential fine of up to A$54.6 million under Australia’s Online Safety Act for ignoring safety obligations.

Inman‑Grant warned that the platform had continued to host videos from the 2019 Christchurch mosque shooting and the 2022 Buffalo shooting among other extremist atrocities long after notices were issued.

She argued that the availability of such content “desensitises, normalises and sometimes radicalises” users and could even assist in planning attacks.

Telegram’s response was delayed; after months of unresponsiveness, the platform finally engaged, but critics say it still maintained a permissive environment for extremist material.

In addition to the fine, journalists note that Australia does not license major platforms like Telegram, but could seek a court order to cease the service if it continues to breach safety obligations.

The regulator previously fined Telegram A$1 million in February 2025 for failing to timely address child abuse and extremist content questions.

Telegram’s founder, Pavel Durov, has faced legal challenges in Russia and France for alleged failure to moderate the app’s content, highlighting international pressure on the company to elevate safety protocols.