The federal court case alleges Telegram breached Online Safety Act duties by leaving reported extremist material accessible, with potential penalties reaching A$54.6 million.
Australia’s eSafety Commissioner filed a civil case in federal court on July 30 alleging Telegram systematically breached its duties under the Online Safety Act by failing to remove reported terrorist content. The case cites material including the 2019 Christchurch shooting video and content tied to the 2022 Buffalo attack, with regulator Julie Inman Grant saying some flagged posts remained accessible for up to three weeks. The legal action adds to mounting scrutiny of Telegram’s moderation practices and could expose the platform to penalties of up to A$54.6 million under Australian law.