Australia fines telegram over response to terror and abuse content
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The messaging platform was late in submitting its method for combating terrorist content, as well as child sexual abuse.
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The icon for the instant messaging Telegram app is seen on a smartphone, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023 (AP)
The Australian online watchdog said on Monday that it has fined Telegram a fine of $600,000+ for missing a deadline to reveal how it regulates "terrorist" and child sexual abuse content after the messaging giant replied 5 months late to the May 6, 2024, limit according to eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman.
The watchdog had asked Telegram and other social media platforms to submit their mechanism for detecting "terrorist, violent extremist, and child sexual exploitation content," according to Inman, who added that Telegram did not reply until October 13.
"Surfacing how and where some of these platforms might be failing -- and also succeeding -- in tackling this content is vital to protect the community and raise safety standards across the industry, especially where this most abhorrent of content is concerned," Inman stated.
Telegram has 28 days to pay the penalty of 958,000 Australian dollars (613,000 USD), seek more time to pay, or try to challenge it and get it withdrawn, and if it doesn't pay, the commission can seek an additional penalty in federal court.
Telegram cooperates with governments
Pave Durov, CEO of Telegram, revealed on October 2 2024 that his messaging platform was adhering to privacy policies in multiple countries and sharing information about criminal activity with the authorities for 6 years.
A month before that, Durov updated the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy emphasizing that phone numbers that violate the messaging platforms' rules can be "disclosed to relevant authorities in response to valid legal requests."
“Since 2018, Telegram has been able to disclose IP addresses/phone numbers of criminals to authorities, according to our Privacy Policy in most countries,” Durov explained, adding that whenever authorities submit a "properly formed legal request via relevant communication lines,” it verifies it and shares the IP addressed and phone numbers of criminals.
This development followed Durov's arrest in France in August 2024 due to an outstanding arrest warrant that's part of a preliminary police investigation.
The Russian multi-billionaire denied accusations his messaging app is an "anarchic paradise", emphasizing that France had a hotline it could use to contact Telegram at anytime to address any concerns it has.
