After Russia, Telegram faces fresh terror content case in Australia

New Delhi: Telegram is facing fresh legal pressure after Australia’s internet regulator began court action against the messaging platform over claims that it failed to remove pro-terror content. The move came a day after Russia charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with facilitating terrorist activity linked to alleged attacks organised through the app.

Australia’s eSafety Commissioner said users had reported 12 posts between July and October 2025. The material included videos linked to terrorist executions, mass shootings and known extremist attacks. According to the court filing, Telegram failed to remove 10 of the posts or block the accounts behind them.

Australia alleges serious content failures

eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said the case involved material connected with major extremist attacks.

“This case concerns content linked to some of the most notorious acts of known extremist violence in recent history, including material associated with the Christchurch and Buffalo terror attacks,” Grant said.

“We allege that this content remained accessible on the service long after Telegram had been put on notice.”

The regulator said failure to follow Australian online safety rules could lead to civil penalties of up to A$54.6 million, or around ₹336 crore based on the exchange rate cited in the report.

Telegram rejects the allegations

Telegram said it would fight the case.

“We reject these allegations and will contest them in court,” a company spokesperson said.

The spokesperson added that Telegram’s anti-terror efforts were well documented and claimed the platform had blocked thousands of extremist communities in 2026.

Telegram says it has more than 1 billion monthly active users. Its large reach has made it a major communication tool during the Russia-Ukraine war, with officials and citizens in both countries using it for updates.

Russia also targets Pavel Durov

Russia charged Durov on Wednesday, alleging that Telegram was used by Ukrainian intelligence agents to organise attacks inside Russia.

Durov left Russia in 2014 and later moved Telegram’s operations to Dubai. The legal actions in Australia and Russia place fresh scrutiny on how the company handles violent content, state pressure and user safety across different countries.