Australian authorities are taking Telegram to court over an alleged failure to remove terror-related content, including video of the March 2019 shooting at a Christchurch, New Zealand mosque in which 51 people were murdered, several news outlets reported Thursday.
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.
The announcement follows charges Russia announced Wednesday against Durov for allegedly aiding terrorism by allowing the app to be used for recruitment by Ukrainian secret services. Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) placed Durov on a wanted list.
Durov was arrested and placed under investigation in France in 2024 for his alleged failure to properly moderate the app to reduce criminality. He was released months later, while the investigation continues. Durov resides in Dubai and holds dual citizenship of the United Arab Emirates and France, according to Telegram.