Australia takes Telegram to court over alleged failure to remove 'pro-terror' material

What the report says

Australia’s eSafety commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, has begun court action against Telegram over allegations that the messaging platform failed to remove extremist and “pro-terror” material after being notified, BBC World News reported. The case was announced in Sydney on 30 July 2026 and concerns content including footage of the 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks and other violent material allegedly accessible on the service.

According to the BBC, Inman Grant said Telegram could face penalties of up to A$54.6m (£28m; US$38m) under Australia’s Online Safety Act. She alleged the platform had remained too permissive toward extremist content, despite the regulator starting inquiries in March 2024 and experiencing months of limited engagement. She also said the content at issue was tied to well-known incidents of extremist violence and could contribute to normalising or radicalising users.

Telegram disputed the claims. A spokesperson told the BBC the company rejects the allegations and plans to fight them in court, saying its anti-terrorism measures are extensive and publicly documented. The BBC also noted that Australia’s regulator had previously fined Telegram A$1m in February 2025 for not responding on time to questions about its handling of child abuse and extremist material.

The case adds to international scrutiny of Telegram and its founder, Pavel Durov. The BBC reported that Russia charged Durov a day earlier over alleged facilitation of terrorism, and that he remains under investigation in France following a 2024 arrest related to alleged failures in moderating criminal activity on the app. Inman Grant said Australia has powers to seek stronger court orders against platforms, though such powers have not previously been used.