Australia's online safety regulator on Monday imposed a fine of nearly 1 million Australian dollars, or about Rs 5,54,75,200, on the messaging platform Telegram. The fine was imposed because Telegram delayed clarifying what steps it was taking to prevent the exploitation of children and the spread of violent extremist content.

Social media platforms asked for answers.

Australia's eSafety Commission sought answers from YouTube, X, Facebook, Telegram, and Reddit in March 2024. The commission accused these companies of not taking adequate steps to prevent extremists from recruiting users through live-streaming features, algorithms, and recommendation systems.

Telegram and Reddit were specifically asked to explain what steps they were taking to prevent content related to child sexual abuse. They had to respond by May 2024, but Telegram submitted its response in October.

Tough stance on transparency

Australia's eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said, "Timely transparency is not an optional option in Australia. This action reinforces that all companies must comply with Australian laws." According to Grant, Telegram's delay hindered the implementation of online safety measures.

Telegram clarified

Telegram said in its defense that it had answered all eSafety's questions last year and there were no pending issues. The company said, "This unfair and disproportionate fine relates only to the delay in responding, and we will appeal against it." Australia's intelligence agency reported in December that one in every five of its primary terrorism-related investigations involved minors.

Telegram is also being closely monitored globally, especially since its founder Pavel Durov was formally investigated in France in August 2024 for allegedly using the app in illegal activities. Durov is currently on bail and has denied these allegations.

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