Australia initiates legal action against Telegram over failure to remove extremist content

Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman-Grant, has launched legal proceedings in the Federal Court against messaging platform Telegram, alleging the company failed to comply with statutory safety obligations under the country’s Online Safety Act.

The regulator claims Telegram permitted a permissive environment by hosting easily accessible extremist content, including footage of the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings, the May 2022 Buffalo attack in New York, and filmed terrorist executions. The platform faces potential fines of up to 54.6 million Australian dollars for its non-compliance.

The legal action follows a history of regulatory friction, including a one million Australian dollar fine imposed on Telegram in February 2025 for failing to answer inquiries regarding child abuse and violent material on time.

Inman-Grant noted that whilst Australia does not license digital services, the regulator possesses the statutory authority to request a Federal Court order ceasing Telegram’s operations within the country if necessary.

A spokesperson for Telegram rejected the allegations, stating that the platform’s anti-terrorism moderation efforts are well documented and confirming that the company will contest the claims in court.