Telegram is facing a potential $38 million fine in Australia after authorities accused the platform of failing to remove terrorist-related content from its service.
Australian regulators have filed a case against the messaging app, claiming it did not comply with requests to take down extremist material, including footage from the March 2019 Christchurch mosque shooting in New Zealand that killed 51 people.
Julie Inman-Grant, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, said Telegram could receive a penalty of up to $38 million for allegedly breaching requirements under the Online Safety Act, according to the BBC.
Inman-Grant said the case involves content connected to some of the world’s most serious recent extremist attacks, including material linked to the Christchurch and Buffalo terror incidents, Reuters reported.
Telegram rejected the allegations and said it would challenge the claims in court. The company said its anti-terrorism efforts are extensive, noting that thousands of extremist communities were removed or blocked from the platform in 2026.
The messaging service, which is popular among crypto users for discussions around blockchain projects, trading communities, bots, and decentralized applications, did not immediately respond to CoinDesk’s request for additional details.
The Australian proceedings come shortly after Russian authorities announced charges against Telegram founder Pavel Durov. Russia accused Durov of allowing the platform to be used for terrorist recruitment linked to Ukrainian intelligence services and placed him on a wanted list through the Federal Security Service (FSB).
Durov previously faced legal scrutiny in France in 2024, when authorities investigated claims that Telegram had failed to adequately moderate criminal activity on the platform. He was later released, although the investigation remains ongoing.
Telegram has stated that Durov currently lives in Dubai and holds citizenship in both the United Arab Emirates and France.
