Telegram Faces Massive Australian Fine Over Terror Content

The Australian eSafety Commissioner has launched civil penalty proceedings against Telegram in the Federal Court. The regulator claims the platform did not detect or remove videos showing terrorist executions and mass shootings, even after users flagged the material. If the court rules against the app, Telegram could face fines reaching 54.6 million Australian dollars.

Regulators allege that some harmful content remained visible for nearly three months. They also suggest that Telegram did not properly inform users about the status of their reports and that the platform's rules did not adequately ban this type of extremist material across all parts of the app. About 1.5 million Australians use the platform every month.

Telegram has publicly rejected the claims. A spokesperson for the company stated that their anti terrorism efforts are well documented and confirmed that the firm intends to fight the lawsuit in court. This legal battle adds to the growing pressure on the company and its founder Pavel Durov, who has faced recent scrutiny from authorities in other countries.

The outcome of this case may set a precedent for how Australia regulates global tech platforms. Industry observers will be watching to see if the court enforces significant financial penalties, which could change how messaging services handle moderation requirements moving forward.