Australia Launches Legal Action Against Telegram Over Pro-Terror Content

On July 30, the office of Australia’s eSafety Commissioner announced that it had commenced civil proceedings against the messaging platform Telegram. The regulator alleges that Telegram failed to remove videos of terrorist executions and mass-shootings, including material linked to the Christchurch and Buffalo attacks, despite being notified that the content remained accessible. The filing states that Australian users reported 12 pro-terror posts between July and October 2025, three of which contained known terrorist material, and that Telegram did not act to remove ten of those posts or suspend the associated accounts.

Reuters

Telegram, with more than 1 billion monthly active users, is widely used for both legitimate communication and extremist activity. The platform’s founder, Pavel Durov, a Russian-born entrepreneur who relocated the company to Dubai in 2017, has highlighted the service’s anti-terrorism measures, noting that thousands of extremist communities were blocked in 2026. Nonetheless, the eSafety Commissioner’s office says the platform’s response to the reported posts was insufficient. The case arrives amid broader scrutiny of Telegram’s role in disseminating violent content and its use by officials in Moscow and Kyiv to share information about the Russia-Ukraine war.

Reuters

Julie Inman Grant, the eSafety Commissioner, said the case involves some of the most notorious extremist violence in recent history and that the content remained available long after Telegram was put on notice. A Telegram spokesperson rejected the allegations, pledging to contest the case in court and asserting that the company’s anti-terrorism efforts are well-documented. The spokesperson also referenced the platform’s ongoing removal of extremist communities.

Reuters

If found to have breached Australia’s online safety codes, Telegram could face civil penalties of up to A$54.6 million (approximately $38 million). The legal action underscores growing governmental pressure on global tech platforms to enforce stricter content moderation, particularly for material that glorifies or incites terrorism. The outcome may set a precedent for how Australian authorities hold overseas services accountable for content hosted within the country.

Reuters