Australia's eSafety Commissioner has launched civil penalty proceedings against Telegram in Federal Court, alleging the messaging platform violated the country's Online Safety Act by failing to remove terrorism-linked material even after being made aware of it. The filing, lodged July 30, 2026, marks one of the most significant regulatory actions against the platform in the Asia-Pacific region to date.
According to the regulator, some reported content remained visible on Telegram for as long as three weeks after being flagged. The complaint also alleges the company failed to prevent repeated violations by not removing the accounts, channels, and groups responsible for distributing pro-terror material, and that it did not adequately detect known extremist content already circulating elsewhere online.
Specific Content Named in the Complaint
Among the material cited in the eSafety Commissioner's filing were video clips from the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings and the 2022 Buffalo mass shooting — both incidents that have previously triggered platform takedown obligations across multiple jurisdictions. Under Australia's online safety rules, violations of this kind carry potential fines of up to 54.6 million Australian dollars, or roughly $35.8 million USD.
Telegram's Response
Telegram has not issued an official statement addressing the Australian proceedings, and the company did not respond to a request for comment. Its official X account instead posted a video captioned “freedom of expression,” without directly referencing the case.
Part of a Wider Pattern of Legal Pressure
The Australian case adds to a string of legal troubles facing Telegram and its founder, Pavel Durov. Russia's FSB has separately charged Durov with facilitating terrorist activity and moved to place him on an international wanted list. In France, prosecutors charged Durov with complicity in distributing illegal content through Telegram following his arrest in August 2024. Durov has repeatedly and publicly pushed back against what he describes as government overreach into online privacy.
The Australian proceedings will now move through Federal Court, where regulators will need to substantiate their claims that Telegram's moderation practices fell short of legal requirements under the Online Safety Act.
