Telegram faces a multimillion-dollar fine in Australia over extremist content
Australia's internet safety regulator has initiated legal proceedings against the messaging service Telegram, accusing the platform of failing to comply with requirements to remove terrorist and extremist material.
This was announced by Australia's eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant.
According to the head of the agency, Telegram could face a fine of up to 54.6 million Australian dollars in connection with an alleged violation of the requirements of the Online Safety Act. The regulator claims that the platform failed to ensure the timely removal of materials linked to terrorist activity, including video recordings of the attack on mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, despite warnings sent earlier.
Julie Inman Grant stated that such content remained available to users for an extended period of time, emphasizing that no digital platform can be exempt from complying with current legislation. In her words, keeping such materials publicly accessible poses a threat to public safety.
As the agency reported, the investigation into Telegram's measures to combat terrorist and extremist content was launched back in March 2024. According to the commissioner, for several months the company had virtually no engagement with the regulator, and subsequently, despite the start of cooperation, the platform still allowed free access to extremist materials.
The statement by the Australian authorities came a day after Russian law enforcement agencies charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with aiding terrorism. According to investigators, the messenger was allegedly used for recruitment by Ukrainian special services.
This is not the first time the Australian regulator has brought claims against Telegram. In February 2025, the platform was already fined one million Australian dollars for the untimely provision of information about the measures being taken to counter the spread of materials related to the sexual exploitation of children and extremist content.
Julie Inman Grant had also previously led the Australian authorities' initiative to introduce age restrictions on the use of social networks, as a result of which Australia became the first country in the world to adopt a law banning access to such platforms for users under the age of 16.
Source: BBC
