Australia's eSafety Commission fined messaging platform Telegram about A$1 million for its delay in providing information on measures to prevent child abuse and violent extremist content, the regulator announced on Monday.
Australia’s online safety regulator has imposed a fine of around A$1 million ($640,000) on messaging platform Telegram over delays in responding to questions about steps taken to prevent the spread of child abuse material and violent extremist content.
In March 2024, the eSafety Commission requested information from social media platforms, including YouTube, X, Facebook, Telegram, and Reddit, regarding efforts to curb extremism and child abuse content on their platforms. While other platforms complied by May, Telegram did not respond until October.
eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant stressed the importance of timely transparency, stating, "Timely transparency is not a voluntary requirement in Australia." She noted that Telegram’s delay obstructed eSafety’s efforts to enforce online safety measures.
Telegram defended itself, stating it had fully responded to eSafety’s questions last year and that the penalty was “unfair and disproportionate,” focusing only on the timing of the response. The company intends to appeal.
The messaging platform faces increasing scrutiny worldwide, with its founder Pavel Durov under investigation in France over alleged illegal activities facilitated by the app. Durov, currently out on bail, has denied the allegations.
Grant emphasised that greater transparency is needed from Big Tech to prevent platforms from being misused for extremist or harmful purposes. If Telegram ignores the penalty notice, eSafety may pursue a civil penalty in court.
The Australian government continues to pressure technology companies to implement stronger safety measures, citing growing risks from online extremist content, particularly involving young people.
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Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 20th of January, covering the latest developments you need to know.
More than 100 vehicles were involved in a massive pileup on Interstate 96 in western Michigan on Monday (19 January), forcing the highway to shut in both directions amid severe winter weather.
U.S. President Donald Trump has linked his push to take control of Greenland to his failure to win the Nobel Peace Prize, as tensions with Europe escalate and the European Union considers retaliatory measures that could reignite a transatlantic trade war.
Italian fashion designer Valentino Garavani has died at the age of 93, his foundation said on Monday.
European leaders voiced growing alarm on Sunday over U.S. threats to impose tariffs on eight NATO allies, warning the move could destabilize transatlantic relations and heighten tensions in the Arctic.
Speaking on Armenian public radio on 9 January, Armenia’s Minister of Economy Gevorg Papoyan made some important announcements for 2026. Among them, discussions between Yerevan and Baku over the range of products Armenia can potentially export to Azerbaijan.
More than 100 vehicles were involved in a massive pileup on Interstate 96 in western Michigan on Monday (19 January), forcing the highway to shut in both directions amid severe winter weather.
Five skiers were killed in a pair of avalanches in Austria’s western Alpine regions on Saturday, with two others injured, one critically.
Global markets are rattled after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened new tariffs on eight European countries over Greenland, sending the euro to a seven-week low and raising concerns about renewed transatlantic trade tensions.
Hong Kong and Shanghai will sign a memorandum of understanding next week to establish a cross-border gold trade clearing system, a move aimed at boosting Hong Kong’s role as an international gold trading hub, Financial Secretary Paul Chan said.
Elon Musk is seeking up to $134 billion from OpenAI and Microsoft, arguing that the companies profited unfairly from his early support of the artificial intelligence firm, according to a court filing made public on Friday.
The UK economy grew more strongly than expected in November, according to official figures, offering signs of resilience after months of weak performance.
China recorded the world’s largest-ever trade surplus in 2025, reaching $1.2 trillion as exporters shifted focus away from the U.S. amid ongoing trade tensions.
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