Australia’s eSafety Commissioner has initiated Federal Court proceedings against Telegram for allegedly failing to remove extremist and terrorist material. The regulator claims Telegram ignored notices regarding 10 out of 12 reported posts between July and October 2025.

The flagged content reportedly included graphic videos of the 2019 Christchurch mosque massacre and the 2022 Buffalo supermarket shooting, which remained accessible for nearly three months. Under Australian online safety laws, non-compliance with regulatory standards can result in civil penalties reaching up to AU$54.6 million.

eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant stressed that technology companies must be held accountable and that no platform operates above the law. Meanwhile, Telegram has rejected the allegations, announcing its intention to contest the legal action in court while emphasizing its broader efforts to block extremist communities globally.