Australia Launches Legal Action Against Telegram For Allegedly Leaving Terror Videos Online After Warnings

Telegram Faces Australian Court Battle Over Alleged Failure To Remove Terror Content

Telegram is facing one of its biggest legal challenges yet after Australia's online safety regulator accused the messaging platform of failing to remove terrorism-related content despite repeated reports from users.

The civil case adds fresh pressure on the platform, which already faces growing legal scrutiny in several countries over how it handles harmful and illegal material.

Australia's eSafety Commissioner has filed proceedings in the Federal Court, alleging Telegram breached its responsibilities under the country's Online Safety Act by allowing extremist content to remain accessible after it had been reported.

If the court rules against Telegram, the platform could face penalties of up to A$54.6 million (US$38 million).

Why Australia Is Taking Telegram To Court

Australia's online safety regulator said its investigation, which lasted around a year, found repeated failures by Telegram to remove unlawful extremist content after receiving complaints from users.

According to court filings, Australian users reported 12 posts containing terrorism-related material between July and October 2025, including three posts featuring known terrorist content.

The regulator alleged Telegram failed to remove 10 of those posts and did not suspend or block the accounts responsible for publishing them.

The watchdog also claimed some reported content remained available for as long as three weeks after Telegram had been notified.

It further alleged the platform did not take enough action to stop repeat offenders by removing channels, groups and accounts used to distribute extremist material.

The case also includes allegations that Telegram failed to detect known terrorist content before it was eventually removed, including footage from the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings and the 2022 Buffalo mass shooting, as well as propaganda linked to the Islamic State group.

eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said the case involved material connected to some of the most widely known extremist attacks 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."

She added:

"We allege that this content remained accessible on the service long after Telegram had been put on notice."

Telegram Rejects The Allegations

Telegram said it intends to fight the case in court.

A company spokesperson said,

"We reject these allegations and will contest them in court."

The spokesperson added that Telegram's efforts to combat terrorism are well established, stating that the platform blocked thousands of extremist communities during 2026 alone.

Shortly after news of the Australian legal action emerged, Telegram's official X account also posted a video carrying the caption "freedom of expression."

Legal Pressure On Telegram Is Growing Worldwide

The Australian proceedings arrive as Telegram and its founder, Pavel Durov, face mounting legal challenges in multiple countries.

A day earlier, Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) charged Durov with facilitating terrorist activity and said it had started procedures to place him on an international wanted list.

Russian authorities accused Telegram of failing to remove channels, chats and bots allegedly used by Ukrainian intelligence services, terrorist organisations and extremist groups to coordinate attacks, recruit operatives and conduct cyber fraud.

Durov also remains under investigation in France following his arrest at Le Bourget Airport in August 2024.

French prosecutors charged him with offences including complicity in distributing illegal content linked to organised crime through Telegram.

Durov has repeatedly defended online privacy and criticised increasing government control over internet platforms.

In an October 2025 post on X, he warned:

"What was once the promise of the free exchange of information is being turned into the ultimate tool of control."

Telegram, which says it has more than 1 billion monthly active users, has become one of the world's largest messaging platforms and remains widely used for communication across conflicts, including the war between Russia and Ukraine, by both officials and the public.