Australia's eSafety Commissioner has filed civil penalty proceedings against Telegram in the Federal Court, alleging the messaging app failed to detect and remove pro-terror material — including execution and mass shooting videos — for weeks after users reported it. The case follows a year-long investigation and could result in fines of up to 54.6 million Australian dollars (about $38 million).
The allegations
The regulator claims Telegram left publicly posted terrorist content online for up to three weeks after Australian users flagged it. Known footage from the 2019 Christchurch mosque shooting and the 2022 Buffalo supermarket massacre allegedly remained on the platform for nearly three months before removal. Investigators also say Telegram's Terms of Service did not explicitly prohibit pro-terror material across all parts of the app, and that the company failed to tell complainants what action was taken on their reports.
Telegram's response
Telegram denied the claims and said it will contest them in court. The company, which reports more than 1 billion users worldwide and hosts groups of up to 200,000 members, has faced growing scrutiny over content moderation. Australians visit Telegram about 1.5 million times a month on average, according to the regulator.
Broader legal pressures
The Australian case adds to Telegram's legal troubles. Russia recently charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with facilitating terrorist activity. Durov has said Russia acted against him because Telegram refused to comply with demands for mass surveillance and censorship. French authorities arrested Durov in August 2024.
The Federal Court will hear the case at a date yet to be set. Telegram has not indicated whether it will seek to settle or fight the penalty.
