Australia's online safety regulator, on Monday, fined messaging platform Telegram approximately A$1 million ($640,000) for its delayed response to inquiries about measures aimed at combating the dissemination of child abuse and violent extremist content.
In March 2024, the eSafety Commission extended its oversight from social media giants like YouTube, X, and Facebook to include Telegram and Reddit, holding them accountable for not doing enough to prevent extremists from exploiting live-streaming tools, algorithms, and recommendation systems for recruitment purposes.
Telegram and Reddit were specifically questioned about their efforts to combat child sexual abuse materials on their platforms, with a deadline set for May. However, Telegram submitted its response in October, impeding eSafety's implementation of online safety protocols.
"Educating companies on complying with Australian law is crucial as timely transparency is mandatory," stated eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant.
Despite Telegram claiming to have satisfactorily answered all inquiries within the specified year, the company intends to appeal the "unfair and disproportionate penalty" attributed solely to the response timeframe.
Amid reports that one in five priority counter-terrorism cases in Australia involve youths, scrutiny of Telegram has intensified globally following its founder Pavel Durov's arrest in France last August concerning alleged illegal activities associated with the app.
Durov, currently on bail, has refuted the accusations. Grant emphasized the necessity for transparency and preventive measures by major tech companies to curb the misuse of their platforms for extremist activities, highlighting the escalating risks posed by online radical content.
Grant underscored the importance of thorough transparency within the tech industry to ensure accountability and address a spectrum of severe online harms impacting Australians.
Should Telegram disregard the penalty, eSafety is prepared to pursue civil measures in court, as stated by Grant.
(Note: Exchange rate provided: $1 = 1.5625 Australian dollars)