Australia has launched formal legal action against the messaging platform Telegram, citing its failure to remove extremist material and terrorist content. The regulator, the eSafety Commissioner, announced on Thursday that the platform could face a fine of up to AU$54.6 million ($38 million, €33 million) for ignoring repeated warnings to purge such content from its service.
According to the eSafety Commissioner, the platform continued to host videos depicting terrorist executions and mass shootings. The regulator specifically identified extremist material linked to high-profile attacks, including the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings and the 2022 Buffalo supermarket shooting. eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant stated that the agency alleges this content remained accessible on the service long after Telegram had been formally put on notice. The regulator further claimed that between July and October 2025, Telegram failed to remove pro-terror content or suspend the accounts responsible for its dissemination, even after users reported the material.
Grant emphasized the gravity of the situation, noting, "This action comes at a time when Australia is experiencing a heightened security environment against the fresh backdrop of the Bondi tragedy," referring to the antisemitic mass shooting at a Sydney beach that resulted in 15 deaths last year. In response to the legal challenge, Telegram denied the allegations and confirmed it would contest the case in court. The company noted that it had successfully blocked thousands of extremist communities during 2026.
The Australian legal move follows closely on the heels of developments in Russia, where authorities charged Telegram's billionaire founder, Pavel Durov, with facilitating terrorist activity. The Russian Federal Security Service issued an international arrest warrant, alleging that the platform was utilized by Ukrainian operatives to coordinate attacks within Russia. Shortly after the warrant was reported, an account associated with Telegram on X posted an image of Durov displaying a middle finger to the camera. Durov, who is of Russian origin and currently resides in Dubai, launched the platform in 2013 alongside his brother, Nikolai. The messaging app has since grown to serve over a billion monthly active users.
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