CANBERRA, July 30 - Australia's online safety regulator has launched legal action against messaging platform Telegram over its alleged failures to remove content promoting terrorism, reported Xinhua.
The Office of the eSafety Commissioner said on Thursday it has commenced civil proceedings in the Federal Court against Telegram, accusing the platform of failing to comply with safety obligations under Australian online safety laws.
eSafety will allege in court that Telegram failed to remove publicly accessible pro-terrorist content, including videos depicting terrorist executions, after the material was reported by Australian users.
It said that videos of the 2019 Christchurch mosque mass shooting and of a 2022 mass shooting in the US city of Buffalo remained available on Telegram for nearly three months before being removed.
Digital platforms that fail to comply with Australia's codes and standards for online safety face fines worth up to A$54.6 million (RM154million).
eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said in a statement that it is "more important than ever" for digital platforms to protect the community following the Bondi terror attack in December.
"This should concern all of us. We're talking about the most seriously harmful online material and Australian law requires services across the online ecosystem to take responsibility for the role they play in allowing this material to be disseminated.
"No platform is above the law, and this action demonstrates that eSafety will not hesitate to use the full range of its powers to protect Australians,” she said.
Minister for Communications Anika Wells said that Australia has no tolerance for technology companies that fail to prevent, detect, and remove terrorism-related material.
