Australia takes Telegram to court over alleged failure to remove 'pro-terror' material
The country's eSafety commissioner alleges that Telegram failed to remove footage of mass shootings.
Australia's eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, has initiated legal proceedings against the social media platform Telegram, alleging its failure to remove "pro-terror" content, including footage of the Christchurch shootings.
Inman-Grant, known for spearheading Australia's pioneering ban on social media for individuals under 16 last year, stated that Telegram could face a penalty of up to A$54.6 million (£28 million, US$38 million) for not adhering to its safety responsibilities under the Online Safety Act. She claimed the platform maintained content "linked to some of the most notorious acts of known extremist violence in recent history" online, even after being notified.
"This should concern all of us," she asserted, emphasizing that "no platform is above the law."
This announcement follows Russia's recent charges against Telegram's founder, Pavel Durov, for allegedly facilitating terrorism through the app's purported use by Ukrainian secret services for recruitment. Durov was also arrested and placed under formal investigation in France in 2024 for allegedly failing to adequately moderate the app to curb criminal activity, though he was permitted to return home months later as the investigation continues.
Inman-Grant revealed that her agency began questioning Telegram in March 2024 about its efforts to combat terrorist and extremist material, encountering "five very difficult months of unresponsiveness." While the platform eventually engaged, she alleged it maintained a "permissive environment" for hosting extremist content that was "very easy to find."
"This only serves to desensitize, to normalize and to sometimes radicalize" users, she explained, further alleging that the platform was "sometimes used to plan attacks."
The BBC was unable to secure immediate comment from Telegram. However, the company has previously denied insufficient moderation, and Durov has previously denied failing to cooperate with law enforcement regarding its content.
According to Inman-Grant, extremist content allegedly accessible on Telegram included videos of the 2019 Christchurch mosque and the May 2022 Buffalo shooting in New York, as well as videos of terrorist executions.
With the "painful aftermath" of the December attack targeting a Jewish festival in Bondi still fresh in Australians' minds, she stressed that "it is more important than ever that digital platforms meet their obligations to protect the community."
Inman-Grant clarified that Australia does not issue licenses for platforms like Telegram but noted, "we could apply to the federal court and ask that the service be ceased." She added, "We've never used those powers. We'll see how this all plays out and whether that kind of action is warranted."
In February 2025, the eSafety regulator also fined Telegram A$1 million for its delayed response to inquiries about its strategies for addressing child abuse and extremist material on the platform.