Australia Takes Telegram to Court Over Failing To Remove Pro-Terror Content

Australia’s internet safety watchdog has launched civil court proceedings against messaging app Telegram, accusing the platform of failing to remove extremist videos and pro-terror propaganda.

The legal action filed in the Australian Federal Court by eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant is a major test of the country's 2021 online safety laws, which require digital platforms to actively tackle illegal and extremist material. If found liable, the United Arab Emirates-based company could face civil fines reaching up to A$54.6 million ($38 million).

According to the regulator, the platform allowed material linked to notorious acts of violence to remain easily accessible, even after receiving multiple warnings and complaints from users. Among the content cited in the court filings was footage of the 2019 Christchurch mosque massacre in New Zealand, the 2022 mass shooting in Buffalo, New York, and execution videos produced by the Islamic State.

"This case concerns content linked to some of the most notorious acts of known extremist violence in recent history, including material associated with the Christchurch and Buffalo terror attacks," eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said in a statement. "We allege that this content remained accessible on the service long after Telegram had been put on notice."

Escalating Pressure on Global Platforms

Court documents allege that between July and October 2025, Australian users submitted complaints regarding 12 specific posts containing pro-terror content. Telegram reportedly failed to remove 10 of those posts or suspend the accounts responsible for sharing them.

The watchdog noted that while it began pushing Telegram to comply with safety obligations in March 2024, the platform remained unresponsive for nearly five months. Engagement only improved after Telegram founder Pavel Durov was arrested in France in August 2024 over separate moderation allegations. Despite increased communication, officials argue the service maintained a permissive hosting environment.

Durov, a Russian-born billionaire, also faces escalating international pressure elsewhere. Moscow recently charged Durov with facilitating terrorism, claiming Ukrainian intelligence utilized the app to coordinate operations inside Russia.

While Australia has never invoked its power to ask federal courts to block an entire service from operating within the country, regulator statements indicate that extreme measures remain on the table if compliance is not met. The civil lawsuit follows an earlier A$1 million fine issued against Telegram in February 2025 for failing to answer inquiries regarding its child protection and anti-extremism efforts.

Telegram Vows to Fight Charges

Telegram, which boasts over 1 billion active monthly users worldwide, pushed back against the Australian government's claims.

"We reject these allegations and will contest them in court," a Telegram spokesperson said in a statement.

The platform argued that its anti-terrorism efforts are well-documented, citing internal metrics showing it has blocked more than 150,000 terrorist-related online communities this year alone. In additional comments, the company reiterated its commitment to user privacy and human rights, emphasizing its role as an essential tool for pro-democracy movements in countries such as Iran, Belarus, Myanmar, and Hong Kong.