Australia: Telegram faces legal action over failure to remove terrorist content

Australia's eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman-Grant announced legal action against Telegram, alleging the platform failed to remove pro-terror material, including video of the Christchurch mosque shootings and the Buffalo shooting, despite being notified. The move came a day after Russia charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with facilitating terrorism, based on allegations the app was used for recruitment by Ukrainian intelligence services; Russia separately added Durov, 41, to a blacklist of terrorists and extremists. Telegram faces a potential fine of up to A$54.6m under Australia's Online Safety Act, and eSafety said it could also seek a federal court order to have the service ceased, though it has never used that power. Telegram rejected the allegations and said it would contest them in court, describing its anti-terrorism efforts as well documented. Durov was previously arrested and placed under formal investigation in France in 2024 over alleged failure to moderate the app, an investigation that continues.