Australia sues Telegram over extremist content

Australia sues Telegram for allegedly failing to remove terrorism-related content, risking a fine of up to AU$54.6 million. Telegram denies the claims and will contest the lawsuit.

Australia's eSafety regulator has launched legal action against Telegram, claiming the messaging platform failed to remove terrorism-related and extremist content despite repeated user reports and formal notices. The case centers on videos and materials linked to the Christchurch mosque shootings in New Zealand (2019) and the Buffalo supermarket shooting in the United States (2022), which allegedly remained accessible for weeks after being flagged. Between July and October 2025, users reported several posts containing pro-terrorist content. However, Telegram reportedly did not remove most of these posts or suspend the accounts responsible for distributing them. The regulator argues this violates Australia's Online Safety Act and could lead to a civil penalty of up to AU$54.6 million (about $38 million). Telegram denies the allegations, stating it has blocked thousands of extremist communities and plans to contest the lawsuit in court. The case highlights the challenges of enforcing online safety standards on encrypted messaging platforms and tests Australia's regulatory reach over global tech companies.