Telegram faces terror-related legal action in Australia one day after founder is charged by Russia
Australia's Safety Commissioner is pursuing legal action against Telegram for failing to comply with online safety obligations regarding extremist content. This follows recent legal troubles for founder Pavel Durov, who faces charges in Russia and an ongoing investigation in France.
Why it matters
The case highlights the increasing global regulatory pressure on encrypted messaging platforms to moderate content and cooperate with national security agencies.
Julie Inman-Grant, Australia’s Safety Commissioner, said the messaging app founded by Pavel Durov faced a fine of up to $38 million for failing to comply with its obligations under the Online Safety Act, the BBC said .
"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," Inman-Grant said in a statement, according to Reuters .
"We reject these allegations and will contest them in court," a spokesperson for Telegram said in response to Reuters a request for comment. Telegram's anti-terrorism efforts are well-documented, with thousands of extremist communities blocked by the platform in 2026 alone, the spokesperson told the news agency.
Telegram, home of many crypto-related discussion groups, hosting project communities, trading groups, bots and blockchain-based mini apps, did not immediately respond to a CoinDesk request for further comment.
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