Australia: Australia's online safety watchdog has initiated legal proceedings against the messaging platform Telegram. The suit alleges that Telegram failed to promptly remove videos depicting terrorist executions and mass shootings, even after these were reported by Australian citizens.

According to Anadolu Agency, eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant announced that the civil action is the result of a year-long investigation into Telegram's compliance with the Online Safety Act. The breaches could result in penalties of up to A$54.6 million ($38 million), as reported by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. The lawsuit asserts that Telegram took up to three weeks to remove the reported pro-terror content and did not disable the accounts, channels, and groups sharing such material. This includes content related to the 2019 Christchurch mosque shooting in New Zealand and the 2022 mass shooting in Buffalo, New York, which were reportedly left on the platform for nearly three months before removal.

The regulatory body further claims that Telegram's terms of service failed to prohibit pro-terror material across its platform and that those who reported the content were not informed of any outcomes regarding their complaints. Julie Inman Grant highlighted the importance of this issue, emphasizing the serious nature of the harmful online material involved and the necessity for online services to take responsibility.

Minister for Communications Anika Wells also commented on the situation, stating that Australia has a zero-tolerance policy towards tech companies that fail to effectively manage and eliminate pro-terror content from their platforms.