Fine Issued by Australian Regulator eSafety
According to The Guardian, Telegram delayed providing information on measures it had taken to combat terrorism and materials related to extremism and child exploitation by 160 days.
Multiple companies, including Telegram, were issued a notice on March 18th of last year to provide said information by May 6th of last year, but Telegram provided the requested information on October 13th of last year.
The Australian internet regulator has assessed this delay at $957,780 AUD, or more than $600,000 USD. The platform now has 28 days to either appeal the fine, pay it, or request an extension to the payment deadline.
It is stated that Telegram intends to appeal the fine, citing that it is “unfair and disproportionate”.
#Australia #fines
According to The Guardian, Telegram delayed providing information on measures it had taken to combat terrorism and materials related to extremism and child exploitation by 160 days.
Multiple companies, including Telegram, were issued a notice on March 18th of last year to provide said information by May 6th of last year, but Telegram provided the requested information on October 13th of last year.
The Australian internet regulator has assessed this delay at $957,780 AUD, or more than $600,000 USD. The platform now has 28 days to either appeal the fine, pay it, or request an extension to the payment deadline.
It is stated that Telegram intends to appeal the fine, citing that it is “unfair and disproportionate”.
#Australia #fines
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Telegram Info English
Fine Issued by Australian Regulator eSafety According to The Guardian, Telegram delayed providing information on measures it had taken to combat terrorism and materials related to extremism and child exploitation by 160 days. Multiple companies, including…
Telegram Sues Australia Over Age Verification Law
Telegram has initiated a lawsuit in the Federal Court of Australia against the local regulator, eSafety. The messenger is challenging the legality of the "Online Safety Act 2021" and a significant fine imposed on it.
As a reminder, in February 2025, the Australian regulator fined Telegram over $600,000 for delaying the provision of information on its measures to combat terrorism and materials related to child exploitation.
Telegram's arguments in court:
• The company argues that under Australian law, it is not defined as a "provider of social media services" and is therefore not subject to the regulator's demands.
• Telegram states it never received the initial notification for the fine, claiming it was sent to an incorrect address.
• The company asserts that once it became aware of the request, it voluntarily provided the required information. The @tginfo team previously analyzed the details of that response.
Context of the dispute: The lawsuit comes as Australia prepares to introduce some of the world's strictest age verification rules, effective December 10, 2025.
• The new rules will require tech platforms (including Reddit, Facebook, and TikTok) to prevent users under 16 from accessing their services.
• Fines for non-compliance can reach A$50 million (~$33 million USD).
• Privacy advocates are concerned that to comply with these requirements, companies will have to collect sensitive biometric data or identity documents, jeopardizing the privacy of all users.
Similar age verification measures are being introduced in other countries. For example, earlier this year, Telegram launched facial age verification for users in the United Kingdom due to a new local "online safety" law.
This move is notable amid the numerous restrictions Telegram has faced this year. Unlike the situations in Vietnam, Nepal, Russia, or the UK, where the messenger has largely played a passive role, the company is now taking an active legal stance by challenging the regulator's actions in court.
#Australia #courts #fines
Telegram has initiated a lawsuit in the Federal Court of Australia against the local regulator, eSafety. The messenger is challenging the legality of the "Online Safety Act 2021" and a significant fine imposed on it.
As a reminder, in February 2025, the Australian regulator fined Telegram over $600,000 for delaying the provision of information on its measures to combat terrorism and materials related to child exploitation.
Telegram's arguments in court:
• The company argues that under Australian law, it is not defined as a "provider of social media services" and is therefore not subject to the regulator's demands.
• Telegram states it never received the initial notification for the fine, claiming it was sent to an incorrect address.
• The company asserts that once it became aware of the request, it voluntarily provided the required information. The @tginfo team previously analyzed the details of that response.
Context of the dispute: The lawsuit comes as Australia prepares to introduce some of the world's strictest age verification rules, effective December 10, 2025.
• The new rules will require tech platforms (including Reddit, Facebook, and TikTok) to prevent users under 16 from accessing their services.
• Fines for non-compliance can reach A$50 million (~$33 million USD).
• Privacy advocates are concerned that to comply with these requirements, companies will have to collect sensitive biometric data or identity documents, jeopardizing the privacy of all users.
Similar age verification measures are being introduced in other countries. For example, earlier this year, Telegram launched facial age verification for users in the United Kingdom due to a new local "online safety" law.
This move is notable amid the numerous restrictions Telegram has faced this year. Unlike the situations in Vietnam, Nepal, Russia, or the UK, where the messenger has largely played a passive role, the company is now taking an active legal stance by challenging the regulator's actions in court.
#Australia #courts #fines
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