Australia’s eSafety Commissioner launched a lawsuit against Telegram in Federal Court, claiming the platform failed to promptly remove extremist content, including videos of terrorist attacks. The case follows a year-long probe and threatens fines reaching 54.6 million Australian dollars, around 38 million US dollars.
Details behind the lawsuit
Telegram reportedly allowed pro-terror material to remain publicly accessible for weeks after users flagged it. The regulator accuses Telegram of leaving footage from the 2019 Christchurch mosque shooting and the 2022 Buffalo mass shooting online for nearly three months. Complaints submitted by Australian users were allegedly ignored or not properly addressed. on top of that, Telegram’s Terms of Service did not explicitly ban such content across all app sections.
eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant emphasized the severity of the case, noting that Australians visit Telegram about 1.5 million times a month. The platform claims over 1 billion users globally and supports group chats with up to 200,000 members. She stated Telegram must take reasonable steps to prevent the sharing and monetization of harmful material.
Telegram’s response and wider legal pressure
Telegram strongly denied the allegations and announced plans to fight the case in court. This lawsuit adds to growing legal challenges for the messaging app. For example, Russia recently charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with facilitating terrorist activities. Durov claims these accusations are retaliation for refusing to comply with surveillance and censorship demands. In August 2024, French authorities also arrested Durov, heightening international scrutiny of Telegram’s practices.
The court’s ruling and any penalties imposed could indicate how firmly Australia will hold tech platforms accountable for extremist content moderation in the future.
This information is provided for informational purposes and does not constitute financial advice.
