Australian Regulator Launches Landmark Legal Action Against Telegram Over Persistent Terrorist Content

SYDNEY, Australia – Australia's online safety watchdog has initiated significant legal proceedings against the messaging application Telegram, alleging a systemic failure to remove deeply disturbing terrorist and extremist content from its platform. The move by the eSafety Commissioner comes after years of engagement and a previous substantial fine, underscoring Australia's resolve to hold tech giants accountable for harmful material accessible to its citizens.

The eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, announced Thursday that her agency is pursuing legal action in the Federal Court, accusing Telegram of allowing content related to notorious acts of extremist violence, including videos from the Christchurch mosque shootings and Islamic State executions, to remain publicly accessible. This decisive step highlights a growing global push to regulate online platforms, particularly those like Telegram that have faced scrutiny for their role in disseminating illicit material. The Commissioner emphasized that this content remained online long after Telegram had been formally notified of its presence.

The current legal action follows a protracted period of dispute between the Australian regulator and the Dubai-based messaging service. In March 2024, the eSafety Commissioner issued legally enforceable transparency reporting notices to several major technology companies, including Telegram, Meta, Google, Reddit, and X (formerly Twitter). These notices demanded detailed information on the measures platforms had in place to combat terrorist and violent extremist material, as well as child sexual exploitation content. While most companies complied by the May 2024 deadline, Telegram notably delayed its response for 160 days, finally submitting its information in October 2024.

This significant delay prompted the eSafety Commissioner to issue an infringement notice against Telegram in February 2025, levying a fine of nearly A$1 million (A$957,780). Commissioner Inman Grant stated at the time that timely transparency was not a voluntary requirement in Australia and that Telegram's delay had obstructed the eSafety Commissioner's ability to fulfill its functions under the Online Safety Act. Telegram publicly contested the penalty, describing it as "unfair and disproportionate" and indicating an intent to appeal. The company subsequently filed for judicial review in the Federal Court in April 2025, arguing it was not a "provider" of the Telegram Messenger application under the Online Safety Act and therefore not subject to the reporting notice. However, Telegram later discontinued this challenge in November 2025, dropping its legal pursuit against the validity of the reporting notice.

The content at the heart of the dispute includes harrowing videos of terrorist executions and mass shootings, specifically referencing material linked to the Christchurch and Buffalo terror attacks. Such content is classified as "class 1 material" under Australia's Online Safety Act, representing the most seriously harmful forms of online content. The eSafety Commissioner's powers under this Act allow it to direct online services to remove illegal content and impose significant financial penalties for non-compliance. Maximum civil penalties for failing to comply with Australia's online safety standards can be as high as A$54.4 million.

Australia's enhanced Online Safety Act 2021 provides the eSafety Commissioner with comprehensive powers to address a broad spectrum of online harms, including the ability to issue content removal notices and enforce compliance. These legislative tools reflect a national commitment to safeguarding the online environment, particularly in light of a raised terror threat level in Australia. The Australian Security and Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) has cited the online radicalization of young people as a growing risk, a concern reinforced by reports from the Five Eyes security agencies that have identified platforms like Telegram as conduits for extremist propaganda.

The current legal action against Telegram marks a critical juncture in the ongoing effort to balance free speech with online safety. While Telegram has previously indicated a willingness to cooperate with regulators following international pressures, including the August 2024 arrest of its founder Pavel Durov in France on similar charges, its lack of immediate response to the current Australian legal action signals a continued robust defense of its operational model. The outcome of this case could set a significant precedent for how encrypted messaging services are held accountable for the content shared on their platforms globally. The eSafety Commissioner remains steadfast in its mission to ensure that all online platforms operate within Australian law to protect the community from abhorrent online material.