Australia’s online safety regulator has launched civil penalty proceedings against Telegram, alleging the messaging platform failed to detect and remove terrorist and other unlawful content despite being notified about it.
The proceedings, filed by Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, in the Federal Court after it conducted a year-long investigation into whether Telegram met its obligations under the country’s Relevant Electronic Services Standard. The regulator said that as per its standards, Telegram repeatedly failed to remove extremist content, including videos of terrorist executions and mass shootings, even after users had reported the material. If the court finds the company breached Australia’s Online Safety Act, Telegram could face civil penalties of up to A$54.6 million (~$38 million).
Meanwhile, as of writing, GRAM, the token associated with Telegram’s blockchain ecosystem, traded at around $1.42, down 6.12% over the past week, according to CoinMarketCap data.
Alleged systemic moderation failures
According to the eSafety Commissioner, Telegram allegedly failed to remove terrorist and extremist content within a reasonable timeframe after becoming aware of it. The regulator claims some material, including videos linked to terrorist attacks, remained accessible for weeks after Australian users submitted flag reports. It also alleges Telegram did not take sufficient action against accounts, channels, or groups involved in distributing unlawful content.
Among the examples cited in the filing are videos from the 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks in New Zealand and the 2022 Buffalo supermarket mass shooting in New York. eSafety claims copies of those videos remained on Telegram for nearly three months before they were removed.
The regulator alleges Telegram failed to effectively detect, disrupt, and deter the spread of such pro-terror material across the platform. It also claimed the company’s Terms of Service did not prohibit users from accessing or distributing terrorist content across all parts of the service and that complainants were not informed about the outcomes of their reports concerning unlawful material.
Under Australia’s online safety framework, digital platforms must take reasonable steps to prevent, detect, and disrupt the spread of unlawful content, including child sexual exploitation material, terrorist propaganda, and extreme violent content.
Radicalization concerns
eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said the continued availability of terrorist content on widely used platforms risks normalizing extremist material and contributes to online radicalization. She pointed to content connected to the Christchurch and Buffalo attacks, alleging it remained accessible well after Telegram had been notified. Grant also referenced recent assessments from Australia’s domestic intelligence agency, ASIO, which has warned that online platforms increasingly play a role in the radicalization of individuals.
eSafety noted that Telegram has more than 1 billion users globally and attracts around 1.5 million visits from Australian users each month. The regulator argued that the platform’s large groups and broadcast channels increase the need for stronger content moderation measures.
The second such charge within hours
Within the past 24 hours, Telegram has faced legal challenges from both Russia and Australia. Russia formally charged the platform’s founder Pavel Durov with facilitating terrorist activity, while Australia launched legal action over the platform’s alleged failure to curb the spread of terrorist and violent extremist content. Together, the developments have intensified legal pressure on the messaging platform.
The developments have increased regulatory scrutiny around Telegram, which remains closely connected to the cryptocurrency industry through its crypto wallet expansion and broader blockchain ecosystem.
Penalties and next steps
The eSafety Commissioner is asking the Federal Court to determine whether Telegram breached Section 146(1) of the Online Safety Act 2021 and, if so, impose an appropriate civil penalty. Under Australian law, the alleged violations could result in fines of up to A$54.6 million.
Telegram has yet to release an official response to the latest legal actions in Russia and Australia. The case is part of Australia’s broader effort to strengthen online safety enforcement and increase accountability for digital platforms. The Federal Court will now review the regulator’s claims, while Telegram is expected to respond during the proceedings.
The Crypto Times has reached out to Telegram for a comment, but as of press time hasn’t received any update. The information in this news will be updated if our publication receives official comments or the entity in question issues a public comment.
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