According to the regulator, Telegram failed to remove videos of executions, mass murders, and other terrorist-related material even after receiving complaints from users. The lawsuit also alleges that the platform did not block accounts, channels, and groups associated with such content, nor did it identify previously known recordings of terrorist attacks, including the attack on mosques in Christchurch in 2019 and the shooting in Buffalo, U.S., in 2022.
According to the case file, in the fall of 2025, Australian users filed complaints about 12 posts. According to eSafety, ten of them remained accessible for at least seven days after the complaints were filed, and in some cases, for at least 20 days. The regulator also claims that users were not informed of the outcomes of their complaints.
The agency believes that Telegram’s rules did not prohibit the dissemination of terrorist content across all sections of the service, which, according to eSafety, violates the requirements of Australian law. The maximum fine under the lawsuit could amount to A$54.6 million (approximately $38 million), though the final amount, if the claims are upheld, will be determined by the Federal Court.
Telegram has denied the allegations. A company spokesperson stated that the platform’s efforts to combat terrorism are “well documented” and that thousands of extremist communities were removed in 2026 alone. The company emphasized that it intends to contest the lawsuit in court.
The proceedings mark the latest stage in a protracted standoff between Telegram and the Australian regulator. Previously, eSafety had already taken action against the messaging app, including demands to provide information on its efforts to combat terrorist and illegal content.
According to RBC, the lawsuit was also filed amid increasing scrutiny by authorities in various countries regarding content moderation on Telegram. In 2024, the messaging app’s founder, Pavel Durov, was detained in France as part of an investigation into alleged violations related to content moderation and cooperation with law enforcement agencies. In addition, Russian authorities announced this week that Durov has been charged with aiding terrorism and that an international arrest warrant has been issued for him. Telegram itself has repeatedly stated that it cooperates with law enforcement agencies within the framework of applicable law and is strengthening measures to combat illegal content.
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