- Australia is taking Telegram to court over its alleged failure to remove pro-terror material, including videos linked to the Christchurch and Buffalo shootings, according to the country's eSafety commissioner.
- The eSafety Commissioner stated that the case involves content linked to some of the most notorious acts of known extremist violence in recent history.
- The legal action was initiated after Telegram failed to remove videos of terrorist executions and mass shootings, despite being put on notice.
- If convicted, Telegram could face civil penalties of up to A$54.6 million for failing to comply with Australia's safety obligations.
- In February 2025, Telegram was fined A$1 million for not responding to inquiries about child abuse and extremist material.
- The eSafety Commissioner began inquiries into Telegram's handling of extremist content in March 2024, citing a lack of responsiveness from the platform.
- Julie Inman-Grant, who led Australia's world-first ban on social media for under-16s, emphasized that no platform is above the law.
- The case is seen as a test of Australia's 2021 law requiring technology platforms to keep illegal and pro-terror material off their networks.
Australia's eSafety Commissioner has filed a civil case against Telegram for allegedly failing to remove extremist content, including videos linked to the Christchurch and Buffalo attacks. The platform faces fines of up to A$54.6 million for non-compliance with the Online Safety Act.1246
Inman-Grant stated that the case involves content associated with some of the most notorious acts of extremist violence, including videos of terrorist executions and mass shootings. She emphasized that the platform had left this content online long after being notified, creating a permissive environment for extremist material.3
“This should concern all of us,” Inman-Grant said, adding that “no platform is above the law.” The eSafety Commissioner began inquiries into Telegram's handling of such content in March 2024, but faced months of unresponsiveness from the platform.
The legal action is seen as a test of Australia's 2021 law requiring technology platforms to prevent illegal and pro-terror material from circulating on their networks. Telegram, which claims to have 1 billion users worldwide, has previously been fined A$1 million for failing to respond to inquiries about child abuse and extremist content.58
Inman-Grant noted that Telegram channels created after the Christchurch and Buffalo attacks were used to endorse the killers and share videos of the massacres. The case underscores the ongoing challenges in regulating online platforms and ensuring user safety.
“This only serves to desensitize, to normalize and to sometimes radicalize,” Inman-Grant added, highlighting the potential dangers of unchecked extremist content on social media platforms.
“The eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, stated that Telegram's failure to act on reported pro-terror content persisted long after being notified. This legal action tests Australia's 2021 Online Safety Act, which mandates tech platforms to eliminate illegal material from their networks.”
BBC
