The online safety regulator in Australia has filed a lawsuit against the messaging app Telegram. The regulator accuses the platform of failing to remove extremist content, including videos of mass shootings by white supremacists in Buffalo, New York, and Christchurch, New Zealand, as well as ISIS beheadings.
Telegram, headquartered in the United Arab Emirates and claiming to have 1 billion users worldwide, could face a fine of up to 54.6 million Australian dollars (38 million USD) if found guilty by Australia’s Federal Court. The charges relate to an “alleged failure to detect and remove terrorist-advocating material,” according to eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant.
This civil action tests Australia’s 2021 law requiring tech platforms to combat illegal material and content promoting terrorism. Telegram denies the allegations. A spokesperson stated, “We reject these claims and will challenge them in court.” The regulator insists that the app must take responsibility for what is shared on its platform.
Telegram ranks as one of the world’s most popular messaging apps. The Australian regulator highlights concerns over content shared in group chats of up to 200 people and channels with unlimited reach. “This case pertains to content tied to some of the most notorious acts of extremist violence known in recent history, including material related to the Christchurch and Buffalo terrorist attacks,” said Inman Grant.
She noted that this content allegedly remained accessible on the service long after Telegram had been notified. The acts mentioned involved massacres driven by ideology, committed for online audiences. Years later, digital traces of these events continue to elude regulators, who worry about the power of videos and so-called manifestos to radicalize others.
In a 2022 Buffalo incident, a white supremacist broadcast part of a shooting at a supermarket on Twitch, killing 10 Black people. His motivations included the crimes of an Australian white supremacist who live-streamed his 2019 attack on two mosques in Christchurch via Facebook, killing 51 Muslim worshipers.
Telegram channels created after these and other hate-fueled crimes have attracted users endorsing the perpetrators and sharing massacre content. The Australian regulator’s lawsuit, filed in federal court on Wednesday, argued that the app’s unlimited broadcast reach means Telegram must accept the responsibility to moderate harmful material.
Telegram asserts that it blocks “terrorism-related communities.” The app’s statement claimed that its “extensive counterterrorism efforts” are well-documented, including a link to its published statistics on blocked content and channels. These figures indicate that more than 150,000 “terrorism-related communities” have been blocked this year.
In March 2024, eSafety began urging Telegram to adhere to its policies, but the platform reportedly left them “unresponsive” for months. This changed after France arrested Telegram’s founder and CEO, Russian billionaire Pavel Durov, in August 2024 for allegations of illegal activity on the platform, such as drug trafficking and sharing sexual abuse images of children. He was released after four days, posting bail of 5 million euros (5.7 million USD).
“Telegram initially became more compliant with us and other regulators after France took action against the company,” Inman Grant remarked. “They have still maintained a permissive hosting environment for terrorist content,” she added.
The Australian legal case also relates to ISIS beheadings and other “horrifying material used for propaganda and radicalization,” said Inman Grant. “When platforms are alerted to terrorist content, they must act,” she emphasized.
The Russian Federal Security Service accused Durov of aiding “terrorist activities” on Wednesday. They also indicated that his name would be added to international search lists.
Telegram’s statement, provided to The Associated Press on Thursday, emphasized its commitment to user privacy protection and human rights, including freedom of expression and assembly. It noted its significant role in pro-democracy movements worldwide, including Iran, Russia, Belarus, Myanmar, and Hong Kong.
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