Australia sues Telegram over extremist content, seeks fines up to A$54.6 million
Why it matters: The case could test Australia’s power to force platform compliance or even seek to shut a service down.
Australia’s online safety regulator has taken Telegram to court, alleging the messaging platform failed to remove extremist material, including the 2019 Christchurch mosque shooting video and other terrorist propaganda. The eSafety commissioner said Telegram could face civil penalties of up to A$54.6 million under the Online Safety Act. The regulator alleged some reported content stayed online for weeks and, in some cases, nearly three months, while accounts tied to the posts remained active. Telegram rejected the claims and said it would fight the case. The dispute adds to mounting scrutiny of the platform’s moderation practices after earlier action in Australia and separate legal pressure on founder Pavel Durov in Russia and France.