Telegram hit with legal action in Australia over alleged terror content

Australia has launched legal action against Telegram over the alleged pro-terror posts and the platform’s failure to take down such harmful content.

The announcement of eSafety Commissioner comes after Russian crackdown on the messaging platform in which the country charged Telegram founder Paul Durov with “aiding terrorism” and reportedly put him on an international wanted list. Russian authorities also alleged that the app is being used by Ukraine spies to wage a war against Russia.

According to Australia’s internet regulator, it has initiated the action after Telegram failed to remove unsettling videos of mass shootings and terrorist executions.

"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," eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman ⁠Grant said in a statement.

“We allege that this content remained accessible on the ​service long after Telegram had been put on notice.”

The accusations in court filing stem from the 12 posts that contained questionable terror-related content from July to October 2025. As per filing, Telegram did not either remove 10 of the posts or block the accounts.

In the case of non-compliance with Australia’s safety protocols, the company could face civil penalties of up to A$54.6 million ($38 million).

In response to these allegations, Telegram’s spokesperson denied them and cited “we will contest them in court.” He also added that the platform's anti-terrorism efforts are “well-documented” proven by blocking of thousands of extremist communities in 2026 alone.

When it comes to usage, Telegram is one of the world’s most downloaded apps with 1 billion monthly active users.