Australia’s eSafety Commission has fined popular messaging platform Telegram approximately A$1 million (US $640,000) for failing to respond on time to inquiries about its measures to combat child abuse and extremist content on its platform. The fine, imposed on Monday, underscores the government’s stringent stance on holding digital platforms accountable for their role in preventing harmful online activities.
In March 2024, the eSafety Commission demanded responses from several major social media platforms, including YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Telegram, and Reddit. The inquiry aimed to assess how these platforms prevent the spread of violent extremist material and child sexual abuse content.
While other companies complied within the stipulated deadline of May 2024, Telegram only submitted its response in October, prompting regulatory action.
"Timely transparency is not a voluntary requirement in Australia and this action reinforces the importance of all companies complying with Australian law," eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant stated.
According to Grant, Telegram’s delayed response hindered the commission’s ability to enforce online safety regulations effectively.
Telegram refuted the penalty’s fairness, asserting that it had fully addressed all inquiries from the eSafety Commission in 2023 and had no pending compliance issues.
"The unfair and disproportionate penalty concerns only the response time frame, and we intend to appeal," Telegram stated in an email response.
Despite its opposition, the messaging app faces further legal consequences should it refuse to comply with the penalty. The eSafety Commission has warned that if Telegram ignores the fine, it will seek a civil penalty through court proceedings.
Australia’s national security agencies have been increasingly vocal about the dangers posed by extremist content on digital platforms. According to a December report from Australia’s spy agency, one in five counter-terrorism cases involved young individuals, highlighting the urgent need for robust online moderation policies.
The eSafety Commission emphasized the necessity for major technology firms to maintain transparency in their content moderation efforts:
"If we want accountability from the tech industry, we need much greater transparency. These powers give us a look under the hood at just how these platforms are dealing, or not dealing, with a range of serious and egregious online harms which affect Australians," Grant said.
Telegram has been under increasing scrutiny worldwide, particularly after its founder, Pavel Durov, came under formal investigation in France in August 2024. French authorities are probing whether Telegram has been used for illegal activities, though Durov, who is currently out on bail, has denied all allegations against him.
With growing pressure on tech giants to address online safety concerns, Australia’s fine on Telegram may set a precedent for other governments looking to enforce stricter digital regulations.
Australia’s decision to impose a $1 million fine on Telegram highlights the growing global pressure on tech companies to ensure compliance with online safety regulations. As extremist content and child sexual abuse material (CSAM) continue to pose serious threats, regulatory bodies like the eSafety Commission are taking strict actions against platforms that fail to provide timely transparency.
While Telegram argues that it fully responded to inquiries, the Australian government remains firm on the importance of swift cooperation.
This case sets a precedent for future interactions between governments and Big Tech companies, reinforcing the necessity of accountability, transparency, and proactive content moderation.
With rising concerns over youth radicalization and online extremism, similar regulatory measures may be enforced worldwide. The outcome of Telegram’s appeal will determine the platform’s compliance stance and could shape how other social media platforms respond to regulatory scrutiny in the future.