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Australia has taken Telegram to the Federal Court for failing to remove alleged terror content from its service. The country's eSafety Commissioner initiated legal action on Thursday, accusing Telegram of leaving extremist videos online even after users reported them. If the court rules against Telegram, the company could face fines of up to AUD 54.6 million.
The regulator noted that Australian users reported 12 posts containing terror-related content between July and October 2025. The complaint says Telegram failed to remove 10 of those posts and did not suspend the accounts that shared them. The alleged content included videos linked to the Christchurch mosque attack, the Buffalo supermarket shooting, and terrorist executions.
eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said, "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. We allege that this content remained accessible on the service long after Telegram had been put on notice."
Telegram denied the claims and said it will fight the case in court. The company said it has strong systems to stop terrorist content and removed thousands of extremist communities during 2026.
The case has become Australia's first Federal Court action under the country's unlawful online content rules. Officials say the legal move shows that online platforms must act quickly when users report dangerous material. The outcome could also shape how global messaging apps handle extremist content in the future.
Telegram has more than one billion monthly active users worldwide. The platform has also faced growing legal pressure in other countries, adding to the challenges surrounding content moderation and online safety.
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