Telegram Caught in Crossfire: Australia Sues While Russia Charges Founder With Terrorism

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Telegram Caught in Crossfire: Australia Sues While Russia Charges Founder With Terrorism

Two governments turned on Telegram this week, hitting the messaging giant with legal action on opposite sides of the world.

Australia’s eSafety Commissioner announced Thursday it is taking Telegram to court for allegedly failing to remove videos tied to the Christchurch and Buffalo mass shootings. Regulators say the platform ignored 12 reported pro-terror posts between July and October 2025, taking down only two of them. Commissioner Julie Inman Grant called the case one of the most serious content failures she’s seen.

Telegram says it will fight the allegations in court, pointing to thousands of extremist channels it shut down in 2026 alone. Australia could fine the company up to A$54.6 million (about $38 million) if it loses.

Meanwhile in Moscow, Russia’s FSB charged founder Pavel Durov with helping terrorists, claiming Ukrainian operatives used a Telegram dating chatbot called “Daivinchik/Leo” to recruit young Russians for sabotage missions. Officials say 46 people between the ages of 12 and 22 were arrested over the scheme. Telegram’s response was blunt: an image of Durov flipping off the camera, posted straight to X.

Durov, now based in Dubai and last spotted in Georgia, has faced legal pressure before, including a 2024 arrest in France. He maintains Telegram has gone above and beyond on moderation.

Why it matters

With over a billion users, Telegram sits at the center of both online safety debates and the information war in Ukraine, making it a recurring flashpoint for regulators and governments.

What to watch

Court filings in Sydney and any Interpol response to Russia’s wanted-list request.

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Source: Reuters

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