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Australia’s communications regulator has initiated court proceedings against the messaging platform Telegram, alleging the company neglected to take down extremist material including footage from white supremacist attacks in Buffalo, New York, and Christchurch, New Zealand, as well as propaganda videos from the Islamic State. The United Arab Emirates-headquartered application, which claims approximately 1 billion users globally, could face penalties reaching 54.6 million Australian dollars ($38 million) if found guilty of violating the nation’s content removal obligations, according to eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant’s announcement Thursday.
The legal challenge represents the first major test of Australia’s 2021 legislation mandating that digital platforms actively prevent extremist and illegal content from circulating on their services. Telegram countered the allegations through a written statement, declaring the company would “reject these allegations and will contest them in court” while emphasizing its established protocols against terrorism-related material.
Grant characterized the case as centered on some of history’s most significant extremist violence, specifically referencing the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings that killed 51 people and the 2022 Buffalo supermarket attack that resulted in 10 deaths. She contended that Telegram maintained access to such content long after the regulator had informed the company of its presence on the platform.
The Australian regulator began requesting compliance from Telegram in March 2024 but reported months of non-responsiveness from the company. This dynamic shifted following France’s August 2024 arrest of Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov on allegations involving illegal activities, though he was released after four days following a 5 million euro bail deposit.
Telegram stated in its response that it has blocked more than 150,000 “terrorist-related communities” this year and maintains comprehensive anti-terrorism policies. The company emphasized its commitment to user privacy and freedom of expression, noting its role supporting pro-democracy movements in countries including Iran, Russia, Myanmar, and Hong Kong.
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