The Australian internet safety regulator, eSafety Commissioner, has initiated legal proceedings against Telegram. The reason for this was complaints against the platform regarding publications with materials related to terrorist activities. This was reported by Reuters.

According to the regulator, from July to October 2025, Australian users complained to Telegram about 12 such publications. In three cases, the materials were classified by authorities as known terrorist content. According to court documents, Telegram did not remove 10 publications and did not block associated accounts.

The Australian regulator stated that the platform could face civil penalties of up to 54.6 million Australian dollars — about 38 million US dollars — for violating the requirements. Telegram denied the accusations and stated its intention to challenge them in court. The company also reported that in 2026, it blocked thousands of extremist communities.

Against this backdrop, pressure on Telegram founder Pavel Durov is intensifying. Earlier today, Rosfinmonitoring added him to the Russian list of terrorists and extremists. The day before, Russian law enforcement agencies reported charges against him related to facilitating terrorist activities.

For Telegram, the Australian case is important not only for the potential fine. It shows that regulators are increasingly evaluating not the presence of prohibited content as such, but the ability of large platforms to promptly respond to complaints and remove dangerous materials.