Australia's online safety regulator, the eSafety Commissioner, has initiated legal action against Telegram, alleging the messaging platform failed to remove videos of terrorist executions and mass shootings, including content linked to the 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks and the 2022 Buffalo supermarket shooting.

eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant stated that the content remained accessible on Telegram long after the platform was notified, between July and October 2025. The regulator is seeking a fine of AU$54.6 million ($38 million) for non-compliance.

Telegram denied the allegations and said it would contest the case in court, claiming it had blocked thousands of extremist communities in 2026. The action comes amid heightened security concerns in Australia following an antisemitic mass shooting at a Sydney beach last year.

The Australian move follows Russia's charges against Telegram founder Pavel Durov for allegedly facilitating terrorist activities. Russia's Federal Security Service issued an international arrest warrant, accusing the platform of being used by Ukrainian operatives to organize attacks inside Russia.

Durov, a Russian-born billionaire based in Dubai, co-founded Telegram with his brother Nikolai in 2013. The platform now boasts over a billion monthly active users.

Source: www.dw.com