Telegram faces terror-related legal action in Australia one day after founder is charged by Russia
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Australian regulators have initiated legal action against the messaging app Telegram, accusing it of failing to remove terror-related content from its platform. The case includes allegations that Telegram did not take down material connected to extremist attacks such as the March 2019 Christchurch mosque shooting in New Zealand, where 51 people were killed. Under Australia’s Online Safety Act, the platform could face a fine of up to $38 million for these alleged compliance failures, according to Julie Inman-Grant, Australia’s Safety Commissioner.
Telegram has denied the allegations, stating that its anti-terrorism measures are robust and that it plans to contest the case in court. A spokesperson emphasized that thousands of extremist communities were blocked by the platform in 2026 alone. Despite Telegram’s prominence as a host to various crypto-related communities and tools, the company had not provided additional public comments beyond its rejection of the claims at the time of reporting.
The legal action in Australia follows related challenges faced by Telegram’s founder, Pavel Durov. In Russia, Durov was charged with terrorism-related offenses for allegedly allowing the app to be used by Ukrainian secret services for recruitment. Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has placed him on a wanted list. Furthermore, French authorities investigated Durov in 2024 over allegations of insufficient moderation efforts to curb criminal activity on Telegram, though he was released and the investigation remains ongoing. Durov currently resides in Dubai and holds citizenship in both the United Arab Emirates and France.