Silence broken: Australia slams Telegram with hefty fine over child abuse, terror data delay

In a move signaling a firm stance against online platforms that lag in addressing critical safety concerns, Australia’s online safety regulator has levied a substantial fine against the messaging app Telegram. The eSafety Commissioner’s action underscores the nation’s growing determination to combat the spread of child sexual abuse material and violent extremist content online.

The fine, amounting to approximately A$1 million ($640,000), stems from Telegram’s significant delay in responding to requests for information regarding the measures it has in place to mitigate these harmful materials. The eSafety Commission, in March 2024, issued formal requests to multiple platforms, including Telegram, seeking transparency about their efforts to curb online harms.

The core issue revolves around Telegram’s delayed response. While other platforms provided information within the mandated timeframe, Telegram’s response arrived months later, specifically in October, after an initial May deadline. This delay, according to the eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, obstructed the commission’s ability to effectively implement online safety measures.

“Timely transparency is not a voluntary requirement in Australia, and this action reinforces the importance of all companies complying with Australian law,” Grant stated. She emphasized the necessity for tech companies to be accountable and transparent in their efforts to safeguard users, particularly children, from online exploitation.

The commission’s inquiries focused on the platforms’ actions to address the distribution of child sexual abuse material and violent extremist content, including the use of live-streaming features, algorithms, and recommendation systems for recruitment. Australia’s security agencies have increasingly raised concerns about the use of online platforms for radicalization and the dissemination of harmful content.

Telegram, for its part, has indicated its intention to appeal the fine, asserting that it has fully responded to all of the eSafety Commission’s questions. They state that the issue is solely based on the timeframe of the response. “The unfair and disproportionate penalty concerns only the response time frame, and we intend to appeal,” the company stated.

This action comes amid heightened global scrutiny of Telegram and its handling of illicit content. Notably, the platform’s founder, Pavel Durov, has faced investigations in other countries related to alleged failures to curb illegal activities on the app.

The Australian eSafety Commission’s action sends a clear message to tech companies operating within the country: compliance with online safety regulations is non-negotiable. The commission’s focus is on ensuring that platforms take proactive steps to prevent their services from being misused for harmful purposes.