Pavel Durov's Telegram messaging app faces new terror charges. Now in Australia.

Australian authorities accused Telegram of allegedly failing to remove terror-related content, including a video of New Zealand's March 2019 Christchurch shooting.

Pavel Durov's Telegram messaging app faces new terror charges. Now in Australia.

Policy

Telegram faces terror-related legal action in Australia one day after founder is charged by Russia

The platform faces a fine of up to $38 million for allegedly failing to remove terror-related content.

By

Olivier Acuna

|

Edited by

Sheldon Reback

Jul 30, 2026, 12:09 p.m.

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Telegram allegedly failed to remove several terror-related materials, including video of a mass shooting at the Christchurch, New Zealand mosque. (Michal Klajban/Wikimedia Commons)

Summary

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Australian regulators initiated legal action against messaging app Telegram, alleging it failed to remove terror-related content, exposing the platform to a potential fine of up to $38 million under the Online Safety Act.

Australia’s Safety Commissioner said the case targets material linked to extremist attacks, while Telegram insists its anti-terrorism efforts are robust and vows to contest the allegations in court.

Telegram founder Pavel Durov faces terrorism-related charges in Russia owing to Ukraine’s use of the platform and a French investigation over alleged failures to moderate criminal activity on the app.

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.

Telegram

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