Australia's eSafety Commissioner has launched a crackdown on messaging platform Telegram, alleging that the company failed to remove videos of terrorist executions and mass shootings from its platform.
The office of the eSafety Commissioner said it had begun action after Telegram was notified of the content, but failed to remove it. 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.
Australia Takes Action Against Telegram
The eSafety Commissioner's move comes after Telegram was accused of failing to comply with Australia's codes and standards. Failure to comply with these codes could result in civil penalties of up to A$54.6 million ($38 million).
Telegram's Global Reach and Controversies
Telegram is one of the world's most downloaded apps, with over 1 billion monthly active users. Its founder, Russian-born Pavel Durov, left Russia in 2014, moving himself and the company to Dubai in 2017. The platform has become a critical source of information on Russia's war in Ukraine and is used widely by officials in Moscow and Kyiv.
Russia's Charges Against Telegram's Founder
Russia has also charged Durov with facilitating terrorist activity, alleging that the app was being used by Ukrainian spies to organise attacks inside Russia. However, the eSafety Commissioner's action against Telegram appears to be focused on the company's alleged failure to remove terrorist content from its platform.
The spokesperson for Telegram did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The eSafety Commissioner's statement said, "We allege that this content remained accessible on the service long after Telegram had been put on notice." This suggests that the Commissioner believes Telegram had a clear responsibility to remove the content once it was notified.
The case against Telegram is significant, as it highlights the challenges of regulating online content and preventing the spread of terrorist material. The eSafety Commissioner's move is part of a broader effort to protect Australians from online harm. As the Commissioner said, "This case concerns content linked to some of the most notorious acts of known extremist violence in recent history." The outcome of this case will be closely watched by online platforms and regulators around the world.
Source: Joy Online
