Australia takes Telegram to court over alleged terror content
Australia’s internet safety regulator has started legal proceedings against Telegram over allegations that the platform failed to properly deal with extremist and pro-terror material.
The eSafety Commissioner said the action followed Telegram’s alleged failure to remove videos showing terrorist executions and mass shootings.
The regulator said some of the material was linked to major extremist attacks that have attracted international attention.
The case could create serious financial consequences for Telegram if an Australian court finds that the platform failed to follow the country’s online safety rules.
Australia challenges Telegram over extremist material
Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said the case involves content connected to some of the most serious acts of extremist violence in recent history.
“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.
The regulator also alleged that Telegram was aware of the material but did not remove it quickly enough.
“We allege that this content remained accessible on the service long after Telegram had been put on notice.”
The allegations are now part of legal proceedings and will need to be considered by the Australian courts.
Telegram has rejected the accusations and said it plans to challenge the case.
Telegram rejects the allegations
A spokesperson for Telegram said the company does not accept the claims made by Australia’s regulator.
“We reject these allegations and will contest them in court,” a spokesperson for Telegram said in response to a request for comment.
The company also defended its efforts to deal with extremist material.
According to the spokesperson, Telegram has blocked thousands of extremist communities during 2026 alone.
This means the upcoming court case is likely to focus not only on the reported posts, but also on whether Telegram’s wider systems meet Australia’s legal requirements.
The case could become an important test of how online platforms are expected to respond when users report terrorist or extremist content.
Users reportedly reported 12 posts
According to an eSafety court filing, Australian Telegram users complained to the platform about 12 posts containing alleged pro-terror material between July and October 2025.
The filing said three of those posts contained material that was already known to be connected to terrorist activity.
However, the regulator alleges that Telegram did not remove 10 of the 12 posts.
It also accused the platform of failing to suspend or block the accounts responsible for publishing the material.
The allegations raise questions about how quickly online platforms should respond when users report dangerous content.
They also highlight the growing pressure on social media and messaging companies to prevent extremist groups from using their services to spread propaganda.
Potential penalty could reach A$54.6 million
The legal action could have a significant financial impact if Telegram is found to have breached Australia’s online safety rules.
The eSafety Commissioner said failure to comply with relevant Australian codes and standards could result in civil penalties of up to A$54.6 million, equivalent to about $38 million.
That maximum penalty does not mean Telegram will necessarily have to pay the full amount.
Any penalty would depend on the court’s findings and the legal process that follows.
The case could nevertheless put additional pressure on Telegram to explain how it monitors reported extremist content and what steps it takes after receiving complaints.
For Australia, the case also demonstrates that its internet safety authorities are willing to take legal action against major international technology platforms.
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Telegram has more than 1 billion users
Telegram is among the world’s most widely used messaging applications.
The company says the platform has more than 1 billion monthly active users, giving it a huge global audience.
Its size has also made Telegram an important communication tool in several major international conflicts and political crises.
The platform is particularly significant in relation to the war in Ukraine.
Telegram has become an important source of information about the conflict and is widely used by officials and other users in both Russia and Ukraine.
Because of its large audience, authorities in different countries have increasingly focused on how the platform handles harmful, illegal or extremist material.
