Australia, Russia File Terrorism-Related Cases Against Telegram

The Australian government suing Telegram for alleged failure to remove materials that promote terrorism on its platform.

The Australian eSafety Commissioner, JULIE INMAN-GRANT, said the offensive materials Telegram failed to remove include a video of the Christchurch shootings, which she says is one of the most notorious acts of extremist violence in recent history.

INMAN-GRANT, who led Australia's world-first ban on social media for under-sixteens last year, said Telegram faced a fine of up to Thirty-Eight Million US Dollars for failing to comply with its safety obligations under the Online Safety Act.

Meanwhile, Russian authorities have also charged Telegram's founder PAVEL DUROV with facilitating terrorism, based on allegations that the messenger app had been used for recruitment by Ukrainian secret services.

DUROV was also arrested and placed under formal investigation in France in 2024 for his alleged failure to properly moderate the use of Telegram to reduce criminality.